La Jolla

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

There are plenty of known quantities in Saturday's $150,000 La Jolla H. (G2)

at Del Mar, and there are others like PLASMA BEAM (Smarty Jones), who only has a

mere two starts in the bag and is unproven on turf. Being unimpressed with those

in the field with established form, we're ready to throw the dice and side with

Plasma Beam, who makes his stakes debut while stretching out beyond six furlongs

and trying grass for the first time.

We normally don't side with these kind of horses, but Plasma Beam possesses

competitive BRIS Speed ratings off only a maiden win and hails from a family

with a history of productivity on the turf. His two grandsires were both turf

notables, world-record holder Elusive Quality and champion Theatrical (Ire), and

this female line has given us Geri (Theatrical [Ire]), the Grade 1 winner who was

a top runner on

both turf and dirt, and the Grade 2 dirt winner A. P. Arrow (A.P. Indy). Trainer Angelo Tekos Jr. is far from a household name, but he seems to be getting the best out

of this colt, who is a danger to outsprint the rest for the lead and never look

back.

MARK S THE COOLER (Johar), was a fine second in the Oceanside S. on opening

day. A winner in his first two turf outings, he fared poorly when shipped East

to run in the Colonial Turf Cup (G2), but we liked the way he rebounded last

time. His consistency on the surface should take him a long way.

I'LL SHOW THEM (Smarty Jones) is another two-start veteran by the same sire

as the selection, but in his favor he's already won twice, including an allowance/optional

claimer

over grass. He, too, could be any kind, but we think better value will be had on

Plasma Beam rather than this gelding. There's plenty of upside here.

NEW BAY (Cuvee) perhaps could have used more distance when settling for

second in a six-furlong allowance/optional claimer last time. Not only was that

his first race in three months, but he bowed to Tenga Cat (Storm Cat), a Grade

3-placed runner who had a major class edge. Apparently good enough to be

considered for the San Felipe S. (G2) last spring, we think this one has a solid

chance to improve for the hot Dick Mandella barn.

RENDEZVOUS (Victory Gallop) was a belated third in the Oceanside after a

rough trip and might move forward here. The maiden claiming grad missed when

trying to pass his second-level allowance condition a few starts back, though, so

there are some class concerns. GRETSKY (Toccet) has been first or second in all

four attempts on grass, but his BRIS Late Pace ratings don't stick out and he

might not possess enough of a late kick to rally from way off the pace in the

event he sees softer splits this time.

HERR MOZART (Mr. Greeley) and METEORE (Pulpit) were both unplaced in the

Oceanside and will need to show much more to contend. I. B. OUTTA HERE (Out of

Place) just broke his maiden in his 10th lifetime start while Cinema H. (G3)

runner-up ARCODORO (Medaglia d'Oro) failed to place when returning to the maiden

ranks in his follow-up and seems unlikely to best this superior field.