Las Palmas

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Grade 1 winner MEA DOMINA (Dance Brightly) returns off a more than five-month
break in Saturday’s $150,000 Las Palmas H. (G2) at Santa Anita, and the bay
filly looks poised to continue her winning ways. Trained by Ron McAnally, she
was last seen taking the Gamely Breeders’ Cup H. (G1) over Hollywood Park’s
green by a half-length. That race took place in late May, but the four-year-old
miss is no stranger to winning off layoffs. She returned off a four-month hiatus
to take the Harold C. Ramser Sr. H. last year before trying her luck in the La
Brea S. (G1) on the main track. Mea Domina was immediately switched back to the
turf when she ran sixth in that dirt event, and proceeded to post two grassy wins at Santa Anita
earlier this year. Though lightly race, she
loves the mile distance of this race (4-3-0-0) and could gear up for a winter
campaign with a win on Saturday. Tyler Baze has the call.

PICKLE (GB) (Piccolo) could finally fulfill expectations with a win on
Saturday. The Sanford Shulman charge showcased her talent early in the season,
taking the Wilshire H. (G3) and Yerba Buena Breeders’ Cup H. (G3). Following an
unexpected fifth in the Royal Heroine S. (G3), she recorded two runner-up finishes against stakes
rivals in September.
In her most recent start, the Senator Ken Maddy H. (G3), the dark bay
four-year-old ran near the back before rallying to take fourth. That gives us
some indication that Pickle may be rounding back into her previous form, and she
could offer a nice price under Jon Court.

HALO OLA (Arg) (Southern Halo) is backing up in distance after running
third in the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) last out. The five-year-old bay was just 1
3/4 lengths off the winner in that 10-furlong test and finally returns to the
distance where she won a Group 1 in her native Argentina. Trained by Luis Seglin, Halo Ola hasn’t earned exceptional BRIS numbers in her time
stateside, but she is a hard-knocking mare who never seems to give up. Include in
the exotics with Rene Douglas in the irons.

STAR PARADE (Arg) (Parade Marshall) is another Grade 1 winner, enjoying her best
season in 2004 when taking the Santa Maria H. (G1) and Milady
Breeders’ Cup H. (G1). She started off her six-year-old campaign right, finishing
just a neck back in second in the Apple Blossom H. (G1), but has really tailed
off since then. The dark bay mare seemed to be regaining some of her old spirit
in the Lady’s Secret Breeder’s Cup H. (G2) last out, re-rallying for second
after being passed to just miss by a half-length. Star Parade will be tough to
deny if she continues to improve.

ELUSIVE DIVA (Elusive Quality) has won three of her past five races,
including the Senator Ken Maddy, and brings some nice numbers into this one. She
garnered a 100 Speed figure for the Maddy and has been working well in preparation
for this one. Consider for the bottom of the gimmicks under Pat Valenzuela.
DREAM’S (Chi) (Sam M.) is undefeated from four U.S. starts, including the Swingtime S. last out, and could make a run for the top three.

BRIGHT ABUNDANCE (Quiet American) captured the Noble Damsel H. (G3) in her last race
and owns century-topping Late Pace ratings from her past three starts. She could
come running late in her California debut but may leave herself too much to do for the win. CHASETHEGOLD
(Touch Gold) was second at 20-1 in the Maddy last out and could improve here in
her second start off a four-month break. Consider for part.

BOND DEAL (Ire) (Pivotal) finished well back in her U.S. debut last out and
doesn’t appear capable of challenging here. AUBONNE (Ger) (Monsun) has started
only once this year while running in France. We can’t recommend.