El Encino

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A strong field of seven has been entered to contest the $150,000 El Encino S.

(G2) at Santa Anita on Sunday. Grade 1 heroine ROMANCE IS DIANE (In Excess

[Ire]) has been fantastic in her last pair, including a courageous win in the

Bayakoa H. (G2) most recently, and we'll tab the Mike Mitchell trainee to pick

up her third straight stakes win. The four-year-old miss made headlines when

taking the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) at the conclusion of her juvenile campaign

and has regained that form of late. The dark bay is very fast and should be

the leader from the start and all the way to the wire.

Mike Baze will pilot the California-bred.

TOUGH TIZ'S SIS (Tiznow) chased our top pick for the entirety of the Bayakoa

last out and never wilted for trainer Bob Baffert. The synthetic-loving filly

has been sharp on Cushion Track, posting a pair of wins from her three tries,

including a victory in the Lady's Secret S. (G1). The bay will likely track in

second or third early prior to putting in her final push, and any weakness by

the top one could vault Tough Tiz's Sis into the winner's circle. Victor Espinoza has the call.

ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) has been supremely impressive in her first two

tries and gets a real test in here for John Shirreffs. The half-sister to

multiple Grade 1 millionaire Balance (Thunder Gulch) has won for fun without

being asked to run as of yet, but she faces a pair of Grade 1 winners and a

decent supporting cast on this occasion. As much as we like the

superstar-in-waiting, we can't back her at short odds just yet. David Flores

retains the mount.

DAWN AFTER DAWN (Successful Appeal) was a good-looking allowance winner in

her West Coast debut for John Sadler and could fill out the superfecta with more

improvement. The four-year-old has put in a pair of fine efforts over synthetic

ovals, which includes a third in the Ashland S. (G1), and has registered a trio

of solid six-furlong drills in preparation for this. Garrett Gomez enhances the

filly's chances.

INDESCRIBABLE (Pleasant Tap) was all out to top a weak allowance field and

looks in deep in here. We do acknowledge the fact that the chestnut is perfect

from three starts with blinkers on, but that's not enough to sway us. HUCKING

HOT (GB) (Desert Prince [Ire]) has a nice turn of foot on the lawn and was a

fast-closing fourth in the 2006 Hollywood Starlet, but it's hard to envision

this solid turf performer going last-to-first against these. She's also

cross-entered to Monday's San Gorgonio H. (G2) and may opt for that spot

instead.

FLEET CAROLINE (Tejano Run) is fast from the gate and owns a good deal of

talent, but we can't see the Kentucky-bred dueling up front with these foes and

having anything left in the stretch.