Deputy Minister

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of eight will contest Saturday's $100,000 Seabiscuit Breeders' Cup H. (G3), named

for the famous handicap horse who was undefeated from four starts at Bay

Meadows, including two victories in the Bay Meadows H. The 1 1/16-mile event has

drawn last year's winner, YOUGOTTAWANNA (Candi's Gold), and

we find it hard to go against the six-year-old.

The chestnut is one of two uncoupled Jerry Hollendorfer entrants. Touting a

2004 record of 11-5-3-1, Yougottawanna ran three wide throughout

his only start this year, finishing third by five lengths in the Lafayette H.

That contest was run over a sloppy track and the gelding may not have taken to

the mud. Previously, he capped off his five-year-old campaign in winning fashion

when taking the Forty-Niner H. at this distance. Yougottawanna owns six victories from 11 tries. With the ability to close

or run on the lead, you've gotta want to use this horse.

HABANEROS (Tabasco Cat) switches back to the dirt here and rates our second

choice. The gelding shows a record of two wins from three starts at the

Seabiscuit distance and also has a win at this level in the Carleton F. Burke H.

(G3), although that came at 1 1/2 miles on the grass. Still, with the six-year-old's

back class, we find it hard to deny his closing speed.

Hollendorfer also sends out ADREAMISBORN (Kris S.), who enters off a

second-place finish to JAKE SKATE (Arch) but ahead of our top selection in the

Lafayette. Two back, the gelding recorded the same BRIS Speed rating (106) as

Yougottawanna when finishing second by a neck in the Forty Niner. The

six-year-old owns a win at this level, taking the Longacres Mile H. (G3) last

year, but that contest was run over an off track as well, which he may need.

Jake Skate has a class test here, but he did beat two of our top choices last

out. If the five-year-old can improve off that win, he may continue his perfect

record of hitting the board at the distance (6-2-3-1). We'll use the dark bay in

the gimmicks. The lightly-raced FREDDY (Arg) (Roy) has had three North American starts,

none of which replicated the multiple Group 1 winner's performances in his native

Argentina. In 2002, the chestnut was named Horse of the Year in his native

country. If he can return to that form, as a recent trio of works

suggest, the Donald Burke trainee could surprise.

THIRD HALF (Silver Deputy) has put in some nice works recently for conditioner Bobby

Frankel, but has been on the shelf for two months and steps up in class. We'll

watch for the five-year-old to come running late, but we'll let him beat us.

DESERT BOOM (Boomerang) has six wins from his last 10 starts, four of which came

at the Seabiscuit distance, but takes a serious class jump here and we can't

recommend. Roy Lumm claimed PURE (Unbridled's Song) last out in a 6 1/2-furlong Santa

Anita turf event, in which the gray finished eighth by 10 lengths. Now the

four-year-old, who has run anywhere from six furlongs to 1 1/4 miles, will

attempt to switch surfaces, jump in class and add another quarter mile. We'll

go against.