Berkeley J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

MCCANN'S MOJAVE (Memo [Chi]) was an easy winner of the Sunshine Millions

Classic in his 2007 debut at Gulfstream Park and looks to be the class of

Saturday's Berkeley S. (G3) at Golden Gate Fields. The Steve Specht-trained

seven-year-old earned the first of three straight triple-digit BRIS Speed

ratings for that score, and stepped up to finish fourth, beaten just 2 1/4

lengths, in the Santa Anita H. (G1) two back. The bay ended his 2006 campaign

with a two-length victory in the Union Square S. at this track and could easily

find himself back in the winner's circle here with regular rider Frank Alvarado

in the saddle.

DESERT BOOM (Boomerang) is out to reclaim his title in this 1 1/16-mile test.

The Art Sherman-conditioned dark bay captured the 2005 edition while garnering a

career-best 106 Speed figure for the effort. He raced just twice last year,

finishing off the board in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita and then

returning to take an allowance/optional claiming test at Hollywood Park in

mid-July. The seven-year-old gelding returned in early April and will be tough

in the exotics considering he's undefeated over the track (three-for-three) and

loves the distance (11-7-1-2).

MY CREED (Beau Genius) is another track (9-0-3-5) and distance (12-4-0-4)

specialist. The six-year-old chestnut scored in the President's Day H. at Bay

Meadows two back and was third to our top pick in the Union Square last season.

Trained by Bob Hess, the gelding doesn't appear to like the winner's circle, but

is a threat in the exotics whenever he runs.

VISA PARADE (Arg) (Parade Marshal) will be making his U.S. debut here and

getting first-time Lasix added. The John Sadler-trained four-year-old has

finished off the board only once from nine career starts and is a Group 1 winner

on dirt. He hasn't raced since October and might need a race to acclimate

himself to his new surroundings, but did post a bullet six furlongs in 1:12 1/5

on Hollywood's Cushion Track last Saturday. If Visa Parade brings his

Argentinean form to the states, the rest of this field will be running for second.

Russell Baze has the call.

WANNA RUNNER (El Corredor) captured last year's Lone Star Derby (G3) by easy

lengths, but didn't do so well when shipped to Woodbine for the Queen's Plate. After a fading sixth in the West Virginia Derby

(G3) in early August, the four-year-old was given some time off by trainer Bob Baffert, not seen in competition again until early May, when he finished fifth

on the Cushion Track in the Mervyn LeRoy H. (G2). Wanna Runner was in contention

early, just fading in the stretch, and probably needed that race off the layoff.

He could show much more here in his second start of the year.

GUIDING HAND (Helmsman) is a former claimer making his first start for new

trainer Peter Miller in this spot. The four-year-old gelding is a confirmed

pacesetter, using his speed to take four of his last seven races, but might not

be fast enough for these rivals. A GALLANT DISCOVER (Discover) loves both the

track and distance, but could also find this field too much at this time. MAMBO

TRAIN (Kingmambo) hasn't done so well in his past five starts. We'll let him

beat us.