Palos Verdes J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Synthetic specialist IN SUMMATION (Put It Back) has drawn the rail for the

$150,000 Palos Verdes H. (G2) at Santa Anita on Monday, and we like the

Christophe Clement trainee in this compact field. The five-year-old dark bay

captured the Bing Crosby H. (G1) last summer in his synthetic debut and has kept

the momentum going since that score, sharing a dead-heat victory in the Arlington Sprint H., finishing a

good second in the Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3), and eclipsing the El Conejo H.

(G3) in his latest venture. The Florida-bred has plenty of tactical speed and

should be sitting in second behind likely pacesetter BARBECUE EDDIE (Stormy

Atlantic) to the top of the lane before taking over in this six-furlong event.

There will be a change of rider for In Summation, as Corey Nakatani has been

sidelined by a broken collar bone.

Barbecue Eddie ran a game race in the El Conejo, staying on to finish second for Brian Koriner after dueling on the front

end. The gelded four-year-old, who

has never been off the board in five synthetic efforts, was a close third in the

Ancient Title S. (G1) in the fall and was courageous in his last try. The

Maryland-bred looks like the lone speed in this spot and could be on the lead

for a long time under the right pace scenario. Aaron Gryder will pilot the

speedster.

Multiple Grade 2 star SURF CAT (Sir Cat) has been training well in

preparation for his return off a freshening. The

oft-brilliant six-year-old would undoubtedly be our top pick on the conventional

dirt oval, but he's apparently not the same

on the Cushion Track, and he's worth trying to beat at short odds. We

respect the Bruce Headley charge and wouldn't be shocked if he overcame this

surface to top this group, but we'll keep him on the lower rungs of the exotics

under Alex Solis.

SOUL CITY SLEW (Slew City Slew) has really improved since leaving the dirt

behind and rates a top three chance in here for Mike Mitchell. The gelded bay

was very impressive in his latest win at Hollywood Park and has trained

forwardly in advance of this, but he'll need a hearty pace at which to run to

factor late in this one. Mike Baze will ride the five-year-old.

IDIDN'TDOANYTHING (Trippi) put in a solid late run from well back to finish

fewer than four lengths from the winner in the Malibu S. (G1) and could close for

a small share in this spot. The Ted West trainee has won four of his seven tries

on synthetic ovals and has posted strong BRIS Late Pace numbers in his last

three, leading us to believe that the four-year-old could fill out some exotics

with a rapid early tempo at which to run.

Group 2 hero FLY DORCEGO (Brz) (Choctaw Ridge) topped a small allowance/optional

claiming field

last out but would need major improvement to factor in here. Wildcard COPA DE

PLATA (Pioneering) has been in good form in Puerto Rico but steps way up here in

his first start for Koriner.