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AMERICAN GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
Saturday's $100,000 Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) serves as a prep for next month's CashCall Futurity (G1), and in this seven-furlong feature we like INDIAN FIREWATER (Indian Charlie) for the potent combo of co-owner Mike Pegram, trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Garrett Gomez. Fourth to a highly regarded maiden winner in his Del Mar debut, Indian Firewater came right back to graduate at the same venue by more than four lengths and earned a 99 BRIS Speed rating. The odds-on choice when attempting to pass his first allowance condition at Santa Anita last time, the dark bay unfortunately endured a wide trip and was outkicked to the wire while settling for the silver medal. If he can avoid another wide journey, we feel he is more than capable in this spot. Another Baffert trainee is MACIAS (Purge), who has won two of three including the Jack Goodman S. by a neck last time. Though he only captured that race by a neck, he found himself in the unusual position of dueling early on, which left his tank a bit empty at the end. He's clearly a major threat again in this one, though we find it intriguing that Gomez has sided with our selection here. AMERICAN LION (Tiznow) invades from Kentucky along with jockey Julien Leparoux. He beat a next-out winner by nearly seven lengths when breaking his maiden at Keeneland last out, and could be any kind for trainer Eoin Harty. PICO PICO (Pico Central [Brz]) did not perform up to snuff in a pair of routes recently, but like his sire he might simply prefer one-turn races. He gets a chance to redeem himself on the cutback here. Last-out maiden winners GET MY FIX (Posse) and TRIBAL FACE (Tribal Rule) earned Speed ratings that aren't too far off what the top selections have earned, though they still seem a cut below on paper. SEATTLE RULER (Roman Ruler) reverted to lackluster form in the Norfolk S. (G1) after breaking his maiden in the Barretts Juvenile over dirt at Fairplex. He simply seems to prefer dirt to the various synthetic surfaces he will constantly have to race over as long as he remains on this circuit. PURSE LUVA (Pollard's Vision) is a three-time winner, albeit in two claiming races and a starter allowance restricted to maiden claiming winners. He obviously lacks the necessary class to pull off the upset.
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