AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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CINEMA H. (G3), 9TH-HOL, $100,000, 3YO, 1 1/8MT, 5:00 P.M. (PDT), 6-21 |
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| 1 |
MASSONE, 3, c, by MenifeeStoneleigh’s Hope, by Damascus O-Frankfurt Stable; B-Lockhart Spears Estate & Arthur Hancock (Ky) |
| 2 |
DOVER STREET ART (IRE), 3, c, by AlhaarthSanta Sophia, by Linamix O-Royce S Jaime Racing Inc & Green; B-Aylesfield Farms Stud Ltd (Ire) |
| 3 |
FLASHMANS PAPERS (GB), 3, c, by Exceed and ExcelFranglais, by Lion Cavern O-Triple B Farms; B-Cliveden Stud Ltd (GB) |
| 4 |
ELUSIVE BLUFF, 3, c, by Elusive QualityMegans Bluff, by Pine Bluff O-Southern Equine Stable LLC; B-Eldon Farm Equine LLC (Ky) |
| 5 |
HERR MOZART, 3, c, by Mr. GreeleyClincher, by Metfield O-Zayat Stables LLC; B-Fred W Hertrich (Ky) |
| 6 |
ARDEN PARK, 3, c, by Ecton ParkGal From Dixie, by Dixieland Heat O-Arden Village Lifestyle; B-Niknar Farm LLC & Ecton Park (Ky) |
| 7 |
OIL MAN (IRE), 3, c, by PyrusSo Precious, by Batshoof (Ire) O-Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC & Tala; B-Diana Webley (Ire) |
| 8 |
ARCODORO, 3, c, by Medaglia D’OroNorthern Gulch, by Gulch O-Southern Equine Stable LLC; B-RMF Thoroughbreds (Ky) |
ELUSIVE BLUFF (Elusive Quality) will make his first start since winning the
Pilgrim S. (G3) at Belmont Park in early October, and we’ll give him top billing
in a less-than-stellar edition of Sunday’s $100,000 Cinema H. (G3) at Hollywood
Park. Trained by
Eric Guillot, the unbeaten bay displayed a nice turn of foot after tracking the
pace in both starts, earning commendable BRIS numbers, and the stalker should
sit a
perfect trip close to a very moderate pace on Sunday. Michael Baze, who was up
for the Pilgrim score, will return to the saddle aboard the promising colt.
OIL MAN (Ire) (Pyrus) relished the stretch out to nine furlongs when
capturing an entry-level allowance last out. The John Sadler-trained colt owns
graded experience and is training forwardly for his return off a freshening,
recording a six-furlong bullet move in 1:12 on June 8. His BRIS Late Pace
figures are among the best, and Joel Rosario will return to the saddle aboard
the improving three-year-old. Oil Man could be rallying fastest of all among the
deep closers.
MASSONE (Menifee) merits serious respect. The Grade 1-placed runner made his
turf debut last out in the Alcatraz S. at Golden Gate Fields and left himself
with far too much to do in the stretch before rallying for third, beaten a
length. The Ron McAnally pupil recorded a whopping 112 BRIS Late Pace rating
last time, so he can finish, but the maiden winner often comes up short. We’ll
use him on the bottom of our top three.
ARCODORO (Medaglia d’Oro) is still a maiden, but he’s got a chance at an
upset. The Guillot trainee exits a much-improved runner-up finish in which he
set the pace before weakening slightly in deep stretch, and he could wind up as
lone speed in this spot under Joe Talamo. It’s still a tall task for such an
unproven three-year-old, but Arcodoro has the potential to shake loose during
the early stages. We’ll throw him in a couple of gimmicks.
HERR MOZART (Mr. Greeley) will look to offer a challenge under new rider
Victor Espinoza. He exits a win over entry-level allowance rivals and could keep
improving for conditioner Bob Baffert, but we still have some doubts about his
overall quality at this stage of his career. We’ll look for more down the road
from Herr Mozart. FLASHMANS PAPERS (GB) (Exceed and Excel) owns solid
credentials, but we’ll try to beat him for the win. The Doug O’Neill charge is
bred to run long, but he’s raced mostly in sprints and will be tested over nine
furlongs for the first time on Sunday. He’s can’t be dismissed from exotics
consideration.
ARDEN PARK (Ecton Park) will receive a positive jockey switch to Rafael
Bejarano, but we didn’t like the way he ran in his lone previous start in
Southern California. The Greg Gilchrist colt has the talent to be a factor at
this level, but we’ll give him a race at this extended distance. DOVER STREET
ART (Ire) (Alhaarth) hasn’t shown enough in three U.S. starts for us to
recommend his chances.