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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
Ten handicappers are set to go 1 1/8 miles over the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate on Saturday in the $150,000 All American S. (G3). HELLO SUNDAY (Fr) (Poliglote [GB]) has morphed into another animal since switching to synthetic racing, and we'll look for the Group 3 hero to spring the upset in here. Trained by Bobby Frankel, the bay colt was a good third in the Pacific Classic (G1) two back and followed that up with an even finish in the Goodwood S. (G1). The bay was a sharp winner at Del Mar in his initial synthetic effort, and minor improvement should find the four-year-old in the mix late under Joe Talamo. BUZZARDS BAY (Marco Bay) is the most talented horse in the group and is clearly the one to beat, but we'll look to beat the likely odds-on choice. The Grade 1 hero captured the Californian S. (G2) in his second start of this campaign, and following a subpar performance in the San Diego H. (G2), the five-year-old dusted four foes in an allowance prep. Jose Valdivia Jr. will ride for conditioner Ron Ellis. Sunshine Millions Classic victor MCCANN'S MOJAVE (Memo [Chi]) will make his synthetic debut in this one for Steve Specht and should be in the top three if he handles the surface. The seven-year-old bay was a strong fourth in the Morvich H. (G3) last out and has plenty of back class. Frank Alvarado retains the assignment. WANNA RUNNER (El Corredor) ran off early before folding in the Goodwood last out but looked impressive in wiring the Windy Sands H. two back at Del Mar. The Bob Baffert trainee will remove blinkers for this start in hopes of settling a little better early, but the gelding is still the speed of the field and he has a realistic chance at a top three placing with a sensible early pace. Carlos Gonzalez will be in the irons. LANG FIELD (Langfuhr) hails from the sharp Art Sherman barn and has kept good company of late, leading us to believe that the gelding could be in the mix late under Russell Baze. The gray four-year-old has never won in five efforts on an all-weather surface, but has placed three times and trained exclusively over synthetic tracks since the summer. The Kentucky-bred will surely be forwardly placed in the early going, and he could hang around for a while with a soft tempo. Conditioner Jerry Hollendorfer has a trio of entrants in here that we have trouble separating. The late-running AMAZIN BLUE (Marquetry) was best in the Alberta Derby in the summer but has yet to build on that signature win to date. Multiple stakes-winning SHARP WRITER (Capote) has never raced over a synthetic oval and hasn't been close in his last trio of efforts. Seabiscuit H. star PUTMEINYOURWILL (Old Trieste) has done most of his damage on the turf but enters this in good form. Note that Sharp Writer and Putmeinyourwill are coupled in the wagering. We respect the connections, but we have no preference for any of the three. MY CREED (Beau Genius) upset the Berkeley S. (G3) four back but has failed to hit the board since for trainer Bob Hess. The chestnut gelding was unplaced in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) in his lone synthetic try, and though we're willing to forgive him for that tough assignment, it's hard to endorse his current results. SIR GALLOVIC (Victory Gallop) has been solid in Western Canada but faces the acid test in here. We'll need to see one from the former claimer before backing with confidence.
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