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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
A field of nine fillies and mares will contest the Easter Sunday feature at Santa Anita, the $150,000 Santa Ana H. (G2) at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe), who has come up short in five consecutive graded stakes dating back to September, again merits serious respect and might just have found a field she can beat in the Santa Ana. Prior to leaving her native New Zealand last year, Black Mamba had just a maiden victory to her credit and had gone unplaced in four consecutive group stakes. It didn't take long following her importation, however, to prove her worthiness against some of the best turf fillies in California. After winning her allowance debut at Del Mar, Black Mamba was beaten three-quarters of a length by Precious Kitten (Catienus) in the Palomar H. (G2), then finished behind Nashoba's Key (Silver Hawk) and Citronnade (Lemon Drop Kid) by the same margin in the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1). She continued to play the role of bridesmaid in the Las Palmas H. (G2), Dahlia H. (G2) and Buena Vista H. (G2), but in each instance she tried to close into a moderate pace. While the pace of the Santa Ana may not be significantly quicker, she does have more ground to work with on Sunday and figures to be stronger in her second race back from a brief layoff. LAVENDER SKY (Mt. Livermore), who finished third in the Dahlia, turned in her best race when second to champion Wait a While (Maria's Mon) in the San Gorgonio H. (G2) in January. Those black-type placings were impressive considering she remained eligible for a first-level allowance, and following those two races she dropped down to that level and comfortably posted a one-length win going 1 1/4 miles. Her previous graded stakes form points her out as a major player in the Santa Ana. COSTUME (Danehill) displayed more tactical speed than usual in the Buena Vista, and the change in style produced dividends when she made the front in the stretch and held off Black Mamba by a neck. The apparent absence of other speed in the Santa Ana may allow Costume to assume control from the outset, but she stretches out a furlong Sunday and her form prior to the Buena Vista was relatively undistinguished. KRIS' SIS (Forestry) was third behind Costume and Black Mamba in the Buena Vista, a race she probably needed following a long layoff. Kris' Sis ended her 2007 campaign on a strong note, capturing the restricted Osunitas H. at Del Mar and finishing third in the Palomar. She has shown some tactical foot in the past and seems like one of the more likely to keep Costume from turning the early pace into a walk. FOXYSOX (GB) (Foxhound), who sports a 5-3-0-1 record over the Santa Anita turf, has raced sporadically in 2007-08, but showed signs of life when a closing third in the Wishing Well II H. last time and should appreciate the stretch-out from about 6 1/2 furlongs. The last two winners of the Brazilian Oaks (Brz-G1), COLINA VERDE (Brz) (Know Heights [Ire]) and IMMORTELLE (Brz) (Vettori), made their American debuts in a Santa Anita allowance on February 11 where they finished first and second, respectively. The race itself was not especially fast, however, and both will have to improve to contend in the Santa Ana. PERSIAN EXPRESS (Bahri), who was of handicap quality in England, enters off a third in a third-level allowance in her American debut. She, too, will have to make significant progress to contend. I CAN SEE (Flying Chevron) finished second in the Tuzla H. (G3) two starts ago, but has generally run to her long odds in races of higher quality.
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