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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
Thirteen sophomores will travel one mile over the Santa Anita lawn in the $100,000 Sir Beaufort S. (G3) on Friday, with the Christophe Clement-trained GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) being the one to beat. Although the bay colt has not lived up to the pedestal we put him on earlier in the year, he looks like tons the class in this field. The Kentucky-bred was last seen finishing a troubled seventh, beaten only 2 1/2 lengths, in the Hollywood Derby (G1), and he may benefit from the cutback in trip. Garrett Gomez must navigate a sensible trip from the 12 post. FIFTEEN LOVE (Point Given) hails from the mighty Juddmonte stable and is in the hands of training genius Bobby Frankel, so the dark bay is a contender with those facts alone. A useful horse in Europe for his first nine starts, the Kentucky-bred finished a closing third over the Cushion Track in the War Chant S. most recently, earning an impressive 113 BRIS Late Pace number. We expect a good deal of early speed in here, so the colt should get a nice target turning for home under Edgar Prado. Baldwin S. (G3) hero TEN MEROPA (Johannesburg) has failed to hit the board in two subsequent starts since the Baldwin for Jeff Mullins, but the dark bay has talent and could easily make a late run against these. We'll completely excuse his eighth-place finish in the recent Morvich H. (G3) and expect vast improvement at a big price for this one. MEDJOOL (Monarchos) looked strong in a recent allowance score over the main strip for Julio Canani, and the chestnut will make his turf debut in this contest. The Grade 2-placed colt is out of a half-sister to champion Point Given (Thunder Gulch), who has proven to be a useful turf sire, and it's more than possible that this one could be better on the grass than the main track. The price should be right for those willing to take a stab. The unheralded SKY CAPE (Najran) seemingly always outruns his odds for Kristin Mulhall, including a win at nearly 13-1 in the La Jolla H. (G2) two prior. The talented turf performer has finished first or second in all four efforts over this sod, has the right running style to make a late impact and has trained well in advance of this grass test. Joel Rosario will be in the irons. LIBERIAN FREIGHTER (Bertrando) has natural speed and the rail impost for Neil Drysdale, making him a threat in this bulky field. The California-bred gelding has compiled a smart 9-3-1-5 career turf mark and comes in off of a fine allowance tally, so he appears to be a logical inclusion in the vertical exotics. EL GATO MALO (El Corredor) will make his grass debut in here for Craig Dollase, and he's yet another who could be in the mix with a smooth transition to the sod. The gelded sophomore bagged the San Rafael S. (G3) earlier this campaign and is among the better three-year-olds on the West Coast, so he can place with his best. DAKOTA PHONE (Zavata) has never been one of our favorites, but he is on the steady improve for Jerry Hollendorfer. The gelded bay rolled home in the recent Forty Niner S. at Golden Gate, and he could finish off some gimmicks with another forward move. ICEMANCOMETH (Ire) (Marju) put in a big effort to win an allowance/optional claiming event last out and will make his first start since being claimed by John Sadler. The bay gelding was pressured throughout in his last and never wavered despite establishing a quick tempo against considerably softer. We'll let the gelding beat us on the quick turnaround. YOUNG JOE (Roar) has sharp early speed, in a field full of it, and has never been on the grass prior to this. GHETTO (GB) (Auction House) was a close fourth in the Oak Tree Derby (G2) at big odds, but that hasn't been the strongest race to date and we'll look elsewhere. PISTOL PETE AFLEET (Northern Afleet) is winless in four turf tries and was beaten for a $50,000 tag two prior. IL GIRASOLE (Lemon Drop Kid) is in a tough spot with the widest post in here for Todd Pletcher, and the twice-raced bay gives up a ton of seasoning to much of this cast. While it's not inconceivable that the Kentucky-bred runs a big one beneath Victor Espinoza, he looks like a bit of a reach at anything less than 20-1.
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