Atlando meets familiar foes in San Luis Rey

Atlando meets familiar foes in

San Luis Rey

The top four finishers from last month's San Luis Obispo H. (G2) will renew

their rivalry in Saturday's $200,000 San Luis Rey H. (G2), another 1 1/2-mile grass

marathon at Santa Anita that has drawn a field of 10. San Luis Obispo winner ATLANDO (Ire) (Hernando [Fr])

will tote 117 pounds along with rider Jose Valdivia Jr. In his previous American

starts, the Darrell Vienna charge captured the Knickerbocker H. (G3) last fall,

was the runner-up in the San Gabriel H. (G2) on New Year's Day and ran fourth in the

San Marcos S. (G2) prior to the San Luis Obispo.

San Luis Obispo second T. H. APPROVAL (With Approval) is eligible to move

forward off that solid effort, his first start after a seven-month layoff. The

Eduardo Inda trainee, seeking to improve on his fourth in last year's San Luis

Rey, will be ridden by Alex Solis.

Another who stands to benefit from having a run under his belt is San Luis

Obispo third KING'S DRAMA (Ire) (King's Theatre [Ire]), who was racing for the

first time since a disappointing 16th-place effort in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1).

The Bobby Frankel-conditioned gelding rates as the 121-pound highweight on the

strength of his victory in last year's Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1).

Patrick Valenzuela will be back aboard.

San Luis Obispo fourth BULLISTIC (Holy Bull) will take another crack at the

top three for trainer John Shirreffs. Carleton F. Burke H. (G3) winner GOLDEN RAHY (Rahy)

will make his 2006 debut for new trainer Doug O'Neill. Other contenders include Carleton F. Burke runner-up WILD BUDDY

(Line in the Sand); Grade 3 victor EASTERN SAND (Line in the Sand); and ONE OFF

(GB) (Barathea [Ire]), who recently returned from the shelf to post a solid

runner-up effort in an allowance for Neil Drysdale.

King's Drama will break from the rail. To his outside will come Bullistic,

Kerwin John, 113; Eastern Sand, Aaron Gryder, 115; TOTALLY PLATINUM (Dynaformer),

Juan Ochoa, 112; BALUSTRADE (Green Dancer), Alex Bisono, 109; Wild Buddy,

Michael Baze, 113; One Off, Kent Desormeaux, 112; Golden Rahy, Tyler Baze, 116;

Atlando; and T. H. Approval, 116.

King's Drama and Atlando will be coupled in the wagering as a Gary

Tanaka-owned entry.