Palomar J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A well-matched field of 10 turf distaffers will contest Wednesday's $200,000

Palomar H. (G2), the closing-day feature at Del Mar, and we'll give the edge to

GOTTA HAVE HER (Royal Academy). Trained by Jenine Sahadi, the Grade 3-winning

mare has shown solid form all season, recording a 6-2-3-1 mark with strong BRIS

numbers to her credit, and she exits an excellent second, beaten a length, to

Magical Fantasy (Diesis [GB]) in the John C. Mabee S. (G1). The cutback to 1 1/16

miles should benefit the five-year-old mare, who will be sitting close to the

pace before offering her best beneath Tyler Baze.

LETHAL HEAT (Unusual Heat) merits serious respect. She seized the lead in the

stretch of the Del Mar Mile H. (G2), eventually weakening slightly to third, and

the Barry Abrams trainee recorded a commendable effort in last year's Del Mar

Oaks (G1), striking the front in midstretch before settling for the show spot.

We like her inside post and expect Alex Solis to sit a good trip pressing the

pace, and the in-form filly figures to get the first jump on her main rivals.

We'll find out whether she can last this time.

We'll get value with MEYDAN PRINCESS (Ire) (Choisir), who has gone off at

long odds in three of her last four starts and is listed at 15-1 on Wednesday's

morning line. She's moved forward for Jim Cassidy since arriving at Del Mar,

winning the Osunitas H. prior to a sixth in the Mabee, and she performed better

than her running line shows last time. The four-year-old filly was in the mix,

threatening to win before being outkicked against top competition, and missed by

only three lengths in the tight finish. With improving BRIS Speed and Late Pace

ratings to her credit, as well as favorable cutback in distance to 8 1/2

furlongs, Meydan Princess rates consideration for an upset.

CARRIBEAN SUNSET (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) is the early 9-5 favorite by virtue

of her terrific second in the Diana S. (G1) last out, missing by only a head to

champion Forever Together (Belong to Me), but the Christophe Clement pupil drew

the far outside for her California debut. Saratoga's leading jockey, Ramon

Dominguez, will be along for the ride, but we'll try to beat her for the win.

The Diana was a marked improvement over her first three U.S. outings and came

over a softened turf course, and the four-year-old will face much different

conditions here. She looks vulnerable to us at short odds.

ALLICANSAYIS WOW (Street Cry [Ire]) will enter off a top showing for Patrick

Biancone, rallying for second in the Del Mar Mile, and she'll look to

stalk-and-pounce in this spot under Garrett Gomez. A hard-fought allowance

winner two starts back, the four-year-old filly must be considered an exotics

contender, but we're leery of a regression in this deep field.

WILD PROMISES (Wild Event) will be on or close the lead from the start, and

her mark at the distance (four-for-four) and on turf (14-11-1-1) are difficult

to knock. The Grade 3-winning lass returned from a lengthy freshening to easily

capture her second straight running of the Luther Burbank H. at Santa Rosa last

time, but the competition gets much stiffer here. She's another one to consider

for the bottom of the gimmicks. MISSIT (Ire) (Orpen) is doing well presently,

but she'll be tested for class in this spot. We won't be shocked to see her come

charging for a minor award, but we can't back in her this difficult spot.

BEL AIR SIZZLE (Unusual Heat) will look to come rolling late for Abrams, but

she's failed to hit the board in her last five starts and needs a major

turnaround to challenge. DAWN AFTER DAWN (Successful Appeal) can handle

turf and synthetics, but she probably needs an easier spot to be effective.

FLASHOVER (Unusual Heat), who also hails from the Abrams barn, is likely

overmatched in this spot.