Del Mar H. J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

SPRING HOUSE (Chester House), one of the more consistent turf marathoners in

Southern California in recent years, stretches out in his second race back from

a long layoff in Saturday's $250,000 Del Mar H. (G2). Set at 1 3/8 miles, the Del

Mar should be right up the alley of the Julio Canani trainee who captured the

12-furlong San Luis Obispo H. (G2) in February and the Carleton F. Burke H. (G3)

over the same trip last October.

Following his 2 1/4-length score in the San Luis Obispo, Spring House

traveled to Nad Al Sheba for the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), but in finishing

10th found the competition too difficult. Rested until the July 20 Eddie Read H.

(G1) going nine furlongs, Spring House turned in a solid effort to finish fourth,

1 1/2 lengths behind several sharp rivals at a distance shorter than he

prefers. He's turned in four excellent works since that start and is hard to go

against with a return to his usual form.

CHURCH SERVICE (Pulpit), runner-up in the San Luis Obispo at 20-1, might be

overlooked in the wagering following a fifth-place finish in the Sunset H. (G2)

last time. Winner of the Dallas Turf Cup (G3) two back, Church Service lost

ground between the first and second calls in the Sunset and simply failed to

fire his best shot in a 3 1/2-length defeat. He should offer value in the

exotics.

RUNAWAY DANCER (Runaway Groom), the nine-year-old veteran who narrowly missed

in this race last year, concedes racing fitness having not started since the

Carleton F. Burke in October. While he has traded decisions with Spring House in

their last four meetings, we feel the latter is in a better position to prevail

in this rubber match.

HEROI DO BAFRA's (Brz) (Royal Academy) worst effort in 2007-08 occurred in

the 1 1/2-mile Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) in his only start beyond 10 furlongs, but

that effort seems an aberration given he's finished fourth or better every other

time during that span. Grade 3 winner TRANSDUCTION GOLD (Formal Gold) lacked a

sufficient late kick when fourth in the Sunset last time, but finished a decent

second in the Round Table H. and Louisville H. (G3) in his two previous starts.

Rarely among the betting choices, he should provide value in most exotics plans.

Brazilian star MR.UNIVERSO (Brz) (Roi Normand) was a close fourth in his

American debut going 1 1/16 miles last month and might appreciate the longer

trip of this race.

The rest of the field is questionable from a class perspective. TISSY FIT

(Lasting Approval) has found moderate success on synthetic surfaces of late,

while likely pacesetters AMERICAN IMPERIUM (Siphon [Brz]) and YOU GOT ME ROCKING

(Aljabr) are allowance quality runners.