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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEW
Hollywood Park's spring-summer meet will get off to a fast start Wednesday when 10 fillies and mares go postward in the $100,000 Wilshire H. (G2). The one-mile turf contest is a fairly wide-open affair on paper as the premiere runners in the division point for some of Hollywood's bigger prizes later in the meet. Though there appears to be plenty of speed on paper, preference goes to DIAMOND DIVA (GB) (Dansili [GB]), who looked impressive winning her American debut last month and who has shown the ability to rate more kindly than she did that day. Runner-up in three consecutive listed stakes in England last fall, Diamond Diva moved to trainer Jim Cassidy's barn at Santa Anita over the winter, and apparently acclimated rather quickly as she started 4-1 in the March 30 American Beauty H. over a mile on turf. Pressing the pace in second from the start, Diamond Diva took the lead around the far turn and held on to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Among the conquered that day were the Grade 2-placed Fleet Caroline (Tejano Run) and Grade 1-placed Black Mamba (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe). Diamond Diva breaks from post 10 in the Wilshire, and thus figures to take back a bit in order to save ground heading into the first turn. Ample pace should be provided by the likes of LA TEE (Broken Vow), UNSPOKEN WORD (Catuenus) and possibly MACADAMIA (Artax). While La Tee and Macadamia have class questions to answer, Unspoken Word is a two-time stakes winner on grass, including a narrow score in the Hillsborough H. at Bay Meadows last out. That race reversed a two-race slump for the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee, who kicked off her winter campaign with a solid second in the La Brea S. (G1) over Cushion Track. KRIS' SIS (Forestry) appears to be one of the classier mares in the field. Grade 2-placed on both turf and dirt, Kris' Sis weakened to fifth after stalking eventual winner Costume (GB) (Danehill) in the Santa Ana H. (G2) last out , but should appreciate shortening up from 1 1/8 miles. Stakes winner SHERMEEN (Ire) (Desert Style) ran third in the Senorita S. (G3) over the Hollywood turf two years ago, and might be a late factor in exotics provided the pace is fast. COLINA VERDE (Brz) (Know Heights [Ire]), a dual Group 1 classic winner in Brazil, lacked punch when finishing seventh in the Santa Ana. She had won her American debut when taking a February 11 allowance at Santa Anita, but that race was a bit on the slow side and she will need to elevate her game to keep up with graded company in this country. Trainer Bobby Frankel has optimistically entered GENTLE GALE (Storm Cat) in the Wilshire despite the fact she is eligible for a first-level allowance. A veteran of only three starts, she certainly has the upside factor in her favor, but has yet to run beyond about 6 1/2 furlongs and might be close to the pace here after tracking in swiftly run sprints. STAR OF WHITNEY (Bernstein) is one of the top turf mares at Turf Paradise, but has a reputation of being high-end claimer at tracks like Churchill and Arlington. HONORED GOLD (Double Honor) has been quite consistent of late, finishing first or second in her last five starts, albeit against lesser company.
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