Charles Whittingham

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday's $250,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1) attracted a fine

field of 12 for 1 1/4 miles over Hollywood Park's turf, and we'll tab SCINTILLO

(GB) (Fantastic Light) in his second start stateside. A French Group 2 winner

last season, the five-year-old horse didn't fire his best effort in the Jim

Murray H. (G2) last time, but that race featured no pace and there are

a couple of front runners in this field. We like the fact that he's worked a

couple of times in the three-week interim, including a sharp six-furlong move in

1:12 2/5 over the course, and he'll add blinkers for trainer Neil Drysdale, who

wins at an 18 percent clip when adding the hood. We'll give him a slight edge in

this contentious race.

LOUP BRETON (Ire) (Anabaa) missed by only a half-length when third over a

yielding course in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) last time, and the

Julio Canani trainee is eligible to move forward when returning to firm ground on

Saturday. Winner of the San Marcos S. (G2) three back, the six-year-old horse

opened his U.S. racing campaign with a good-looking allowance score at Hollywood

last November and has earned commendable BRIS numbers in all four turf starts.

He looms as a major threat from just off the pace.

BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) was in tight quarters through

the stretch of the Woodford Reserve and never got fully uncorked until deep

stretch. We like the switch back to regular rider Tyler Baze and won't be

surprised to see him challenge for it all here, but the four-year-old gelding is

no win machine, recording three seconds, two thirds and two fourths in his last

seven starts. He still merits serious respect with his first-rate BRIS Speed and

Late Pace figures.

UNUSUAL SUSPECT (Unusual Heat) has class concerns at this level, but he

merits some consideration for the bottom of the exotics with his stout late

kick. The long-distance specialist recorded a commendable second in the San Juan

Capistrano Invitational H. (G2) two back and we'll use him underneath on some tickets.

HYADES (Aldebaran) is an intriguing prospect for Ben Cecil. The English

import has never run a bad one in four U.S. starts and brings respectable BRIS

numbers into this event. Consider him for the gimmicks. RED SUN (Redattore

[Brz]) could be a nice one for Carla Gaines, but he's never been past a mile and

will be taking a steep class hike off a third in the San Francisco Mile S. (G2).

We're inclined to just watch the front runner but won't be surprised to see him

hold for part.

ACCLAMATION (Unusual Heat) opened a huge advantage through slow early

fractions in the Jim Murray and rambled home a 7 1/2-length winner at 14-1. The

front runner will likely face pace pressure on Saturday and we'll let him beat

us again. CARRY GULCH (Arg) (Thunder Gulch) could add to the pace in his second

U.S. appearance, but we're inclined to let him beat us on the stretch out and

class hike.

RENDEZVOUS (Victory Gallop) hasn't shown enough in his recent starts for us

to recommend his chances. It would be a big surprise to see BRUSHBURN (Unusual

Heat), GREAT SIEGE (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) or PORFIDO (Chi) (Mash One

[Chi]) offer a serious challenge.