Crown of Thorns among comebackers in Potrero Grande

M One Rifle, the winner of the 2009 Malibu S. (G1), aims to give trainer

Bruce Headley his seventh Potrero Grande trophy. The five-year-old gelding has

been sidelined since July, when he faded to fourth in the Triple Bend H. (G1),

but has been working up a storm for his dirt debut. Chantal Sutherland picks up

the mount on the pace factor.

Atta Boy Roy was last seen being vanned off after finishing 10th in the

November 6 Breeders' Cup Sprint, but thankfully, the Washington-bred Cinderella

story didn't sustain the suspensory injury first feared. The $4,500 yearling

purchase has been training strongly of late for Valorie Lund, suggesting that

he's ready to return to his sparkling form of 2010. Last year, Atta Boy Roy's

highlights included a victory in the Churchill Downs S. (G2) and a runner-up

effort to the streaking Majesticperfection in the Iowa Sprint H., and he figures

to gun it from the rail Sunday with Vicky Baze.

Triple Crown veteran Chocolate Candy, who was unplaced in the 2009 Kentucky

Derby (G1) and Belmont S. (G1), cuts back to a sprint for the first time since

his juvenile days. Winless since taking the El Camino Real Derby (G3) two years

ago, he failed to hit the board in three starts last campaign, and hopes to get

back on track for Jerry Hollendorfer here.

The Bill Spawr-trained Amazombie is better than ever this winter. He battled

to a game score in the January 29 Sunshine Millions Sprint S., and came back to

finish second in the February 27 Sensational Star H. at about 6 1/2 furlongs on

Santa Anita's downhill turf.

"He's better on dirt," Spawr said.

Mike Smith, the regular rider of both M One Rifle and Amazombie, partners the

latter Sunday.

"He likes Amazombie," Spawr said. "He worked him Tuesday. The horse is a trier. You can depend on him. If you beat

him, you better run hard. He's that kind of horse."

"He worked really good," Smith said of the five-furlong move in 1:00 2/5.

"He's a classy old horse. He does his

thing. I basically stay out of his way."

Captain Cherokee, a half-brother to 2007 champion sprinter Midnight Lute, has

been knocking on the door this meet for Steve Asmussen. Runner-up in the January

22 Palos Verdes S. (G2) to Euroears (Langfuhr), who went on to finish second in

last Saturday's lucrative Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), Captain Cherokee missed

by only a head to the top-class sprinter Smiling Tiger (Hold That Tiger) in the

February 19 San Carlos H. (G2).

Other contenders in the eight-horse field include Baffert's UNCLE SAM (Tapit),

unraced since his fourth in the January 15 Sham S. (G3); Borderland Derby third

SPECIAL KID (Lemon Drop Kid); Hollendorfer's RED SHARP HUMOR (Sharp Humor),

exiting a determined score over subsequent maiden romper Midnight Interlude (War

Chant); GREAT WARRIOR (Brz) (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]), just denied in his U.S.

debut; and CHILOQUIN (Tribal Rule), recently a close third to the Santa Anita

Derby (G1)-bound Mr. Commons (Artie Schiller).