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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
A well-matched field of 12 distaffers will sprint six furlongs in Saturday's $100,000 Las Flores H. (G3) at Santa Anita, and we'll give the edge to MARYFIELD (Elusive Quality), who won't have to face Santa Monica H. (G1) winner Pussycat Doll (Real Quiet) in this spot. The Doug O'Neill-trained mare also cuts back to six furlongs, and she was ultra-impressive in her last attempt at the distance, earning a 104 BRIS Speed rating for her score in the Very Subtle S. at Churchill Downs in early November. A two-time winner over the track, Maryfield suffered her only off-the-board finish from four dirt starts at Santa Anita when finishing fourth in the Santa Monica last time. She's trained well since that start, recording a four-furlong breeze in :47 4/5 last Saturday, and she'll keep Victor Espinoza in the saddle. The speedy six-year-old owns terrific BRIS E2 Pace numbers, registering a 114 last time, and the Canadian-bred will be on or very close to the lead from the start. We'll look for Maryfield to assert herself on the far turn and keep the late runners at bay in the stretch. NOSSA CANCAO (Brz) (Fast Gold) enters the Las Flores in career-best form, passing a lot of horses to finish a good second in the Santa Monica, and she likes the main track in Arcadia, California (8-2-1-2). A sharp victress two starts back in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance/optional claiming event at Santa Anita, the seven-year-old mare might prefer a little more ground than six furlongs, but Nossa Cancao should receive the perfect set-up on Saturday. She's eligible to come flying late. HYSTERICALADY (Distorted Humor) has the class to be a serious factor, but she hasn't started since mid-July. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is probably giving her a race back before pursuing bigger goals, but we can't dismiss the four-year-old filly's chances. She captured the 1 1/16-mile Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks (G2) by 7 1/2 lengths two starts back, notching a 106 Speed rating, and Hystericalady did win her last start at six furlongs easily. She'll be stalking the pace under Corey Nakatani. SECRET SCHEME (Precocity) is three-for-three at the distance and exits a solid third in the Santa Monica. She's done most of her damage against lesser rivals in Northern California, but the Hollendorfer trainee is well drawn in post 5 and should be in position to pounce at the top of the stretch with her tactical speed. Secret Scheme deserves serious consideration for the top three. RUNNING BOBCATS (Running Stag) may have class issues here, but the stalker will offer good value and could possibly make a dent into the exotics. Formerly based in Florida, the five-year-old mare made her first dirt start at Santa Anita last out but never got into the running after breaking slowly. She's trained well since then for Jack Carava, and we'll look for an improved showing on Saturday. SELVATICA (Forestry) drew an outside post (11) and has had her share of physical problems. The lightly raced six-year-old looks like a definite pace factor and is eligible to improve off her last two efforts on the turf, but we'll just watch to see how she fares while stepping up in class in her debut for Julio Canani. HELLO LUCKY (Lucky Lionel) does her best running on the front end and may face too much pressure to be effective. MAZELLA (Mazel Trick) was no factor when fifth in this event last year, and we can't envision her showing more this year based on her recent form. KATY SMILES (Limit Out) will likely attempt to show speed from the rail, but the Turf Paradise shipper could be overmatched in this spot. SPIRIT TO SPARE (Pole Position) is another front runner who is probably in too deep. BABE HALL (El Corredor) and DANCING SQUALL (River Squall) both look too slow based on their Speed ratings.
$25 Bankroll $11 win Maryfield $3 exactas: Maryfield over Nossa Cancao and Hystericalady ($6) $2 exactas: Nossa Cancao and Hystericalady over Maryfield ($4) $2 exactas: Maryfield over Running Bobcats and Selvatica ($4)
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