Jim Murray

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday's $250,000 Jim Murray Memorial H. (G2) at Hollywood Park marks the

American debut of the high class European GREY SWALLOW (Ire) (Daylami [Ire]),

who will find the usual California turf marathoners an easier bunch than the

elite Group 1 company he was facing throughout 2004 and 2005. The 2004 Irish

Derby (Ire-G1) hero has not raced since finishing third, then disqualified to

fourth, in the Canadian International S. (Can-G1) last October, but he's won his

first outing of the season in each of the past three years. Most notably, Grey

Swallow captured the Tattersalls Gold Cup S. (Ire-G1) in his 2005 reappearance,

defeating then-reigning European champion Bago (Fr), Irish Group 3 winner and

eventual Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) runner-up Ace (Ire) (Danehill) and subsequent

European champion older horse Azamour (Ire). He failed to sparkle in his

remaining three starts last year, but it shows how highly he's regarded that

astute horseman Dermot Weld was pointing him toward the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1)

before a couple of minor setbacks derailed his bid. Grey Swallow is in top form

now or else Weld wouldn't have shipped, and he's sending all the right signals

with a strong mile work over the Hollywood turf. Alex Solis picks up the mount.

RUNAWAY DANCER (Runaway Groom) won this race last year at the expense of a

weaker group, and he hasn't visited the winner's circle since. The Dan Hendricks

trainee will find it tough to retain his crown against the likes of Grey Swallow. Still, the gray veteran has a terrific late kick. Throw out his last effort in the Arcadia H. (G2). That

one-mile contest was too short for him to show his best, and he lost all chance

after breaking slowly from the gate. Two starts back in his 2006 bow, however,

he was a fast-closing second to subsequent Arcadia hero Silent Name (Jpn)

(Sunday Silence). Jose Valdivia Jr. will ride, as Solis has opted for Grey

Swallow.

Trainer Neil Drysdale sends out two contenders with different profiles. ONE

OFF (GB) (Barathea [Ire]), exiting a solid second in the San Juan Capistrano H.

(G2),

never came within hailing distance in the San Luis Rey H. (G2), but he

has the American graded stakes experience that his stablemate MACDUFF (GB)

(Machiavellian) lacks. The four-year-old Macduff has more scope for improvement,

though, with only nine lifetime starts under his belt. Moreover, Macduff has

reeled off impressive Late Pace figures in allowance/optional claiming company,

especially a 117 two starts ago. He's never raced this far, but he's coming off

a victory at 1 1/4 miles and has been working sharply. All of that adds up to an

intriguing dark horse who we'll throw in the third spot. Corey Nakatani will partner Macduff, while Jon Court

takes the call on One Off.

GOLDEN RAHY (Rahy) scored narrowly in the 1 1/2-mile Carleton F. Burke H.

(G3) last fall against softer opponents and has shown little this year since

moving to the barn of Doug O'Neill. Oak Tree Derby (G2) third BRECON BEACON (GB)

(Spectrum) also represents O'Neill. The four-year-old had been floundering in

the allowance/optional claiming ranks this spring until O'Neill lowered his

sights to a weaker allowance condition, and he broke through with his first U.S.

win at that easier level. This is quite a step up in class.

KING'S DRAMA (Ire) (King's Theatre [Ire]) was scratched by trainer Bobby

Frankel on Friday.