Sweet Return leads invasion for San Francisco Mile

Sweet Return will be making just his second start of the season on Saturday (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Multiple Grade 1 winner SWEET RETURN (GB) (Elmaamul) leads a brigade of
Southern California invaders in Saturday’s $400,000 San Francisco Breeders’ Cup
Mile S. (G2) at Golden Gate Fields. Of the eight-horse field assembled for the
eight-furlong turf affair, only one, multiple Grade 3 victor ADREAMISBORN (Kris S.),
is based up north.

Sweet Return captured the Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1) and Eddie Read
H. (G1) last year. After being awarded fourth place via disqualification in the
Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship S. (G1) in October, the Ron McAnally charge
went to the sidelines. In his lone start of 2006, he finished sixth in the
one-mile Arcadia H. (G2) at Santa Anita. Frank Alvarado picks up the mount.

One of Sweet Return’s most dangerous rivals is Oak Tree Derby (G2) winner
ARAGORN (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway). In his seasonal reappearance, the Neil
Drysdale trainee ran a tremendous second in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1),
beaten only a head. Pat Valenzuela, who rode him to victory in the Oak Tree
Derby, will reunite with the regally bred colt.

Exiting a sixth-place finish in the Kilroe is multiple French Group 3-placed
CHARMO (Fr) (Charnwood Forest [Ire]). The five-year-old had previously scored
two impressive allowance wins at Santa Anita for conditioner Julio Canani.
Martin Pedroza will be in the saddle.