Evita Argentina, Carlsbad the dangers in Rancho Bernardo

There won't be as much history for EVITA ARGENTINA (Candy Ride [Arg]) to buck

on Friday when she heads a cast of nine fillies and mares in the $200,000

Rancho

Bernardo H. (G3) at Del Mar over 6 1/2 furlongs. Earlier this season, the John

Sadler pupil became the first filly to beat males in the San Vicente S. (G2) at

Santa Anita in 62 years. She later added the A Gleam H. (G2) at Hollywood Park,

becoming the first three-year-old in 63 years to win that seven-furlong dash.

Three-year-old winners of the Rancho Bernardo have been a bit more plentiful

than in the A Gleam, though it's been 20 years since Kool Arrival last scored

for the sophomore set. Interestingly, Evita Argentina is not the only one of her

age in Friday's race with a prime opportunity to win. CARLSBAD (Rocky Bar), who

enters off a tiring fifth in the San Clemente H. (G2) in her grass debut, is a

proven sprinter who can stretch her speed to a middle distance. She showed it

two starts back in the 1 1/16-mile Hollywood Oaks (G2), defeating both Evita

Argentina and LADY LUMBERJACK (Forestry) after setting a moderate pace. The

latter came back to run third to Evita Argentina in the A Gleam.

The best of the older fillies and mares in the Rancho Bernardo might be hard

pressed to prevent a sophomore sweep. GOLDEN DOC A. (Unusual Heat) has lost 13

straight dating back to the 2008 Las Virgenes S. (G1), and hit the board for the

first time in 10 outings when runner-up in an allowance/optional claimer over

the Del Mar strip last time. The winner of that heat, ASHLEY'S KITTY (Tale of

the Cat), returned to her best form that day in what was her first victory since

the 2008 Desert Stormer H. at Hollywood.

SHE'S CHEEKY (Black Minnaloushe), fourth in the A Gleam, has also placed in

the Desert Stormer and Santa Monica H. (G1) this season. The lightly-raced MOON

DE FRENCH (Malibu Moon) suffered her first setback in three starts when going

down by a neck last time as the odds-on choice, but still seems to have plenty

of upside for the potent combo of trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Garrett Gomez.