Del Mar Mile

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday's $250,000 Del Mar Mile H. (G2) features a well-matched cast of

seven turfers. With an honest pace on tap, we'll look for BLUE CHAGALL (Fr) (Testa

Rossa) to strike late for his first American graded stakes victory. A Group 3

winner as a juvenile in his native France, the Julio Canani trainee has been a

tad frustrating since coming to the United States. So far Blue Chagall has saved

his best performances for such restricted events as the Lure S. at Oak Tree last

October and the July 28 Wickerr S. at this course and distance last time out. He

looked very good in the Wickerr with new rider David Flores, leading us to

suspect that Flores might have found the key to this possibly less than

straightforward customer. We'll give Blue Chagall another chance.

MOUDEZ (Ire) (Xaar) made a smashing return from a more than three-year spell

on the sidelines in the August 8 Joseph T. Grace H. at Santa Rosa. Rallying from

last, the six-year-old won going away in his debut for Steve Miyadi, and we

don't think that he had a hard race at all. Moudez was picking up right where he

left off in the spring of 2007. Trained at that time by Bill Mott, the Zayat

Stables runner captured two in a row, including the Forerunner S. at Keeneland,

before his promising career was halted. This is a jump in class, and he's at

least theoretically eligible to regress in his second start back, but we're

highly intrigued by this talented type. The addition of Pat Valenzuela is also

in his favor.

Australian Horse of the Year SCENIC BLAST (Aus) (Scenic [Ire]) is best known

as a world-class sprinter, but he's looked just a little outpaced in his two

U.S. dashes. Hence trainer John Shirreffs is stepping him up in trip here, and

that could be an astute move. Scenic Blast tried a mile once before, finishing

second to the all-conquering Weekend Hussler in the 2007 Caulfield Guineas

(Aus-G1). The blaze-faced bay might prefer a longer stretch, but if Mike Smith

can get him motoring soon enough, Scenic Blast could find his American niche.

ENRICHED (High Brite), who demolished allowance foes in his last try at a

mile, promises to be part of a contested pace. The half-brother to Lava Man is

coming off a pair of thirds in quick succession at this meet. He held the show

spot in the grassy Eddie Read S. (G1) before wheeling back on a week's rest in

the July 31 San Diego H. (G2) on the Polytrack. Trainer Doug O'Neill has given

him nearly a month to regroup, and if he can avoid too much early pressure,

Enriched could last a long way with Joel Rosario.

The once-beaten BRUCE'S DREAM (Atticus) stretched out successfully in the

July 25 California Dreamin' H. over this course, earning this test against a

higher grade. Five-for-six lifetime, the California-bred endured his only loss

in the Morvich H. (G3) last fall, finishing a respectable third to California

Flag (Avenue of Flags). The Mike Puype charge stacks up well in both BRIS Speed

and Late Pace figures, so we won't be surprised if he makes his mark at this

level. Garrett Gomez, who used to be his regular rider, regains the mount from

the injured Joe Talamo.

GOLDEN MEXICO (Ire) (Daggers Drawn) is likely to engage Enriched early, but

we can't see him coming out on top in that tussle. METEORE (Pulpit) hasn't built

upon his score in the La Jolla H. (G2) last year. We'll need to see more from

him before endorsing.