Palomar

TRACK BANDIT GRADED PREVIEWS

A well-matched field of 10 turf distaffers will contest Wednesday’s $200,000
Palomar H. (G2), the closing-day feature at Del Mar, and we’ll give the edge to
GOTTA HAVE HER (Royal Academy). Trained by Jenine Sahadi, the Grade 3-winning
mare has shown solid form all season, recording a 6-2-3-1 mark with strong BRIS
numbers to her credit, and she exits an excellent second, beaten a length, to
Magical Fantasy (Diesis [GB]) in the John C. Mabee S. (G1). The cutback to 1 1/16
miles should benefit the five-year-old mare, who will be sitting close to the
pace before offering her best beneath Tyler Baze.

LETHAL HEAT (Unusual Heat) merits serious respect. She seized the lead in the
stretch of the Del Mar Mile H. (G2), eventually weakening slightly to third, and
the Barry Abrams trainee recorded a commendable effort in last year’s Del Mar
Oaks (G1), striking the front in midstretch before settling for the show spot.
We like her inside post and expect Alex Solis to sit a good trip pressing the
pace, and the in-form filly figures to get the first jump on her main rivals.
We’ll find out whether she can last this time.

We’ll get value with MEYDAN PRINCESS (Ire) (Choisir), who has gone off at
long odds in three of her last four starts and is listed at 15-1 on Wednesday’s
morning line. She’s moved forward for Jim Cassidy since arriving at Del Mar,
winning the Osunitas H. prior to a sixth in the Mabee, and she performed better
than her running line shows last time. The four-year-old filly was in the mix,
threatening to win before being outkicked against top competition, and missed by
only three lengths in the tight finish. With improving BRIS Speed and Late Pace
ratings to her credit, as well as favorable cutback in distance to 8 1/2
furlongs, Meydan Princess rates consideration for an upset.

CARRIBEAN SUNSET (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) is the early 9-5 favorite by virtue
of her terrific second in the Diana S. (G1) last out, missing by only a head to
champion Forever Together (Belong to Me), but the Christophe Clement pupil drew
the far outside for her California debut. Saratoga’s leading jockey, Ramon
Dominguez, will be along for the ride, but we’ll try to beat her for the win.
The Diana was a marked improvement over her first three U.S. outings and came
over a softened turf course, and the four-year-old will face much different
conditions here. She looks vulnerable to us at short odds.

ALLICANSAYIS WOW (Street Cry [Ire]) will enter off a top showing for Patrick
Biancone, rallying for second in the Del Mar Mile, and she’ll look to
stalk-and-pounce in this spot under Garrett Gomez. A hard-fought allowance
winner two starts back, the four-year-old filly must be considered an exotics
contender, but we’re leery of a regression in this deep field.

WILD PROMISES (Wild Event) will be on or close the lead from the start, and
her mark at the distance (four-for-four) and on turf (14-11-1-1) are difficult
to knock. The Grade 3-winning lass returned from a lengthy freshening to easily
capture her second straight running of the Luther Burbank H. at Santa Rosa last
time, but the competition gets much stiffer here. She’s another one to consider
for the bottom of the gimmicks. MISSIT (Ire) (Orpen) is doing well presently,
but she’ll be tested for class in this spot. We won’t be shocked to see her come
charging for a minor award, but we can’t back in her this difficult spot.

BEL AIR SIZZLE (Unusual Heat) will look to come rolling late for Abrams, but
she’s failed to hit the board in her last five starts and needs a major
turnaround to challenge. DAWN AFTER DAWN (Successful Appeal) can handle
turf and synthetics, but she probably needs an easier spot to be effective.
FLASHOVER (Unusual Heat), who also hails from the Abrams barn, is likely
overmatched in this spot.