Pat O’Brien

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The sensational ZENSATIONAL (Unbridled’s Song) will aim to run off his third
straight Grade 1 score for Bob Baffert, and the rising sprint star looks
especially tough in this spot. The gray sophomore was much the best in the Bing
Crosby S. (G1) last out when pulling away late after setting a strong early
tempo, and we expect more of the same from the colt under victor Espinoza.

NIKKI’SGOLDENSTEED (Formal Gold) may have found out what he does best for Bob
Hess Jr. as he’s turned into a solid closing sprinter as of late. We liked what
we saw most recently when the California-bred rallied from last to top a decent
allowance field, and while the competition is much tougher in here, we can see a
scenario where the gelding rallies from well back to get a minor award. Joe
Talamo retains the mount atop the talented four-year-old.

Grade 2 winner NOBLE COURT (Doneraile Court) was a closing third to the top
pick in the Triple Bend H. (G1) in his latest effort and has as much or more
ability than any horse in the field not named Zensational. The John Sadler
charge has finished in the money in 11 of 12 lifetime starts and is a winner
over the oval, but the likelihood of a moderate early tempo will not aid the
late runner in this compact group. We like this five-year-old, but the logistics
of this race seem to go against him.

Recent allowance winner BIG BAD LEROYBROWN (Wild Again) has compiled a nifty
5-2-2-0 mark at Del Mar and has earned triple-digit BRIS Speed numbers in four
straight for Donald Warren, who is having a strong Del Mar meeting. The
consistent gray five-year-old is an exotics threat.

Bing Crosby runner-up TALKIN TO MOM ROO (You and I) has never been better for
Ted West, but the lack of early tempo will not help this one and we don’t see
how he can make up 2 1/2 lengths on the top pick in the last four weeks. The
six-year-old is still another gimmicks contender in this heat. Baffert’s other
entrant, SCREEN TO SCREEN (Deputy Wild Cat), has good early speed but has never
been much of a factor of this nature, and he’s winless in his career on
synthetic ovals.