CashCall Futurity

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEW

A strong field of 14 will travel 1 1/16 miles over the Cushion Track in

Saturday's $750,000 CashCall Futurity (G1) at Hollywood Park. We respect all of

the runners in this group, so we'll look for some value with our top pick.

EATON'S GIFT (Johannesburg) has looked really good for trainer Dale Romans in

his last pair and has trained well enough in the interim for us to tab him for the upset.

Bet down to 6-5 in his Churchill debut versus a fine

group, the Kentucky-bred colt followed that fifth-place effort with a

pair of smart front-running scores. A winner on the Polytrack at Keeneland in

October, the talented juvenile is adept at handling any kind of going and can surely rate off the pace if necessary under Rafael Bejarano. We expect a trip

from just off the pace by the colt before he pulls away late.

There is no disputing the talent of likely favorite MASSIVE DRAMA (Kafwain),

and his works leading up to this race have been sensational, but we can't

endorse a short-priced runner in a field of this depth. The expensive dark bay

has done little wrong in his two career starts, including a strong score in

the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) over this oval nearly one month ago. The fleet

Kentucky-bred should be among the early mix and he'll be tough to contend with

if he endures a good trip in his two-turn debut beneath regular pilot Kent

Desormeaux.

REFEREE (Distorted Humor) was a troubled second to our top pick most recently

and could be a big factor with smooth sailing for Todd Pletcher. The chestnut

freshman was no factor in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) two prior but appears to

have rebounded well from that effort, and he's shown four works over this surface

in advance of this one. The colt has been drilling in the mornings with some fine

animals, and we feel that the outside post will not be enough to keep this one

from challenging for a placing. Julien Leparoux will be in the irons.

OLD MAN BUCK (Hold That Tiger) was third in the paceless Breeders' Futurity

for Ken McPeek, and following a well-beaten sixth-place showing in the Breeders'

Cup Juvenile (G1), the chestnut responded with an impressive win in the grassy

Grand Canyon H. The juvenile colt was shipped here early to get in a pair of

works over this ground, and his late-running style could come in handy in a

field full of fast horses. Pat Valenzuela has the call.

COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow), the sharp victor of the Real Quiet S. most recently,

is yet another who could challenge for a big piece of the pie with improvement.

Conditioned by Eoin Harty, the thrice-raced bay exploded in the stretch to take

the Real Quiet versus softer, but one has to be impressed by his late energy,

nonetheless. We don't see the WinStar homebred passing all of these in the lane,

but he could surely threaten with the right pace scenario under Corey Nakatani.

Norfolk S. (G1) third-placer SHORE DO (Include) has been transferred to the

barn of Bobby Frankel and merits attention for that fact alone. The chestnut

unsuccessfully attempted the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), but has trained

forwardly in preparation for this and should get some pace to run at in the lane.

The Kentucky-bred would have to move up a good deal to beat this group, but the

right set-up could see him grab another Grade 1-placing. Mike Baze has the

assignment.

Hollywood Prevue favorite and runner-up INTO MISCHIEF (Harlan's Holiday) ran

a big one in defeat last out and could certainly offer a run in the latter

stages for Richard Mandella. The bay impressively took his debut at Santa Anita

and followed that up with a good effort in the Prevue, but we're not sure how

far this colt wants to go at this stage of his career. We recommend using the

bay in your vertical exotics, but maybe on the lower two rungs. Victor Espinoza

will guide the Kentucky-bred.

Prevue third MEAL PENALTY (Tale of the Cat) and the unbeaten MONBA (Maria's

Mon) are not that far off the top choices in this one and could register a top

three effort with their best.

Multiple stakes hero SIERRA SUNSET (Bertrando) has never faced a field of

this quality and would surprise us with a big showing. Generous S. (G3) second

INDIAN SUN (Indian Charlie) has yet to run over the main oval, but his running

style gives him an outside shot at a top four finish.

OVEREXTENDED (Monarchos) has raced eight times thus far in 2007, and his best

doesn't match up favorably with this field. TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) looks to

be a cut below and will surprise with a placing in here.

Breeders' Futurity runner-up SLEW'S TIZNOW (Tiznow) was scratched Friday

because of illness.