Bourbon Bay seeks historic sweep in San Juan Capistrano

"This horse is getting better every time he runs," Bejarano commented of the

122-pound highweight, who will be conceding between five and 12 pounds to his

opponents.

Multiple Grade 2-placed STALINGRAD (Glitterman), the second high weight at

117 pounds, will attempt to beat Bourbon Bay on the front end.

"He's got tactical speed," trainer James Cassidy said. "I doubt if anybody

will go (with him for the lead), so it will be all in the ride. The horse will

get the job done if he gets the proper ride."

If so, the task will be in the hands of David Flores. In his first start for

Cassidy, Stalingrad won an allowance event at 1 1/8 miles on turf while going

wire-to-wire under Flores on March 11.

"It was pretty handy," Cassidy said, "and it was his first race in a year and

a half."

Stalingrad had been on the sidelines since September 2008, when he ran second

in the Kelso H. (G2) going one mile at Belmont Park. In his prior start, the bay

was just collared late in the Fourstardave H. (G2) at Saratoga. The San Juan

Capistrano will present a real stamina test for the six-year-old gelding, who

has never raced past 1 1/4 miles. In his lone attempt at that distance, he faded

to 12th and last after pressing a demanding pace in the 2008 Manhattan H. (G1).

MUHANNAK (Ire) (Chester House), weighted at 116, will try to recover the form

that carried him to a 12-1 victory in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Marathon at 1 1/2

miles over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride. The dark bay gelding has failed to hit the

board, however, in nine subsequent starts. He's become a stable project for

trainer Ben Cecil, who took on the challenge prior to Muhannak's last start, a

last-of-eight finish in the 1 1/4-mile San Marcos H. (G2) over the course in

January.

"We've been trying some different things with him," Cecil said. "He's more

focused on what he's supposed to be doing."

Brice Blanc will take over the reins of the globetrotting Muhannak, whose

only previous experience at this distance was a fifth in the 2009 Breeders' Cup

Marathon on Pro-Ride.

Noted Irish trainer Dermot Weld has sent over PRINCESS TAYLOR (GB) (Singspiel

[Ire]), a mare well versed in long-distance turf racing. Fourth in the 1

3/4-mile Lillie Langtry S. (Eng-G3) at Goodwood last July, the chestnut has also

finished fifth in the slightly longer Park Hill S. (Eng-G2) at Doncaster.

Princess Taylor showed little last time out in Dubai, winding up 10th versus

males in a two-mile contest.

In light of the fact that she has not visited the winner's circle since

September 2008, she was assigned the light-weight of 110 pounds. Hall of Fame

jockey Mike Smith's dietary assignment will be to try to get as close as he can

to the feathery impost.

Should she exceed expectations, Princess Taylor would not be the first female

to win the San Juan. Miss Grillo, who carried 117 pounds and Hall of Famer

Johnny Adams, was victorious in 1949.

Other contenders include ROMP (Arg) (Incurable Optimist), who has been

chasing Bourbon Bay in his last three and came closest when runner-up in the

recent San Luis Rey; English handicapper FALCON ROCK (Ire) (Hawk Wing), an

impressive optional claiming winner in his U.S. debut for Simon Callaghan; TAP

IT LIGHT (General Meeting), coming off a victory in the Tokyo City Cup H. (G3)

on Pro-Ride; and  UNUSUAL SUSPECT (Unusual Heat), second in the San Luis

Obispo three back.

The San Juan will be contested as the final race on a 10-race program.

Earlier on closing day, fans will be treated to a jockey autograph session in

the East Paddock Gardens from 11 a.m. to noon (PDT). Bejarano, Smith, Blanc,

Tyler Baze, Joel Rosario, Joe Talamo, Martin Pedroza, Martin Garcia and Omar

Berrio are among those jockeys scheduled to participate.

Additionally, all fans will receive their choice of a beautiful 75th

anniversary wall clock or a Derby Day casual dress shirt, with paid admission,

while supplies last.