Providencia

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Three-year-old fillies will travel one grassy mile in the $150,000 Providencia S. (G2) on

the Santa Anita Derby (G1) undercard, and we like La Habra S. (G3)

fifth-placer PORTO MARMAY (Ire) (Choisir) to take home top honors. The Julio Canani

trainee ran into a tough group in her U.S. debut and should improve with the

added ground in this affair. The chestnut was never too far back during her European

career as a juvenile, and she should be within range throughout on Saturday under Tyler Baze.

SWEETER STILL (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) was a smart winner of the China

Doll S. most recently and rates a big threat in here for Jeff Mullins. The

talented sophomore began her three-year-old campaign with a fast-closing win in

a downhill maiden and followed that effort with a one-length tally at

this trip under jockey Martin Garcia, who will be aboard here. We expect the dark bay to be in

the first flight early before putting in her late run.

GORGEOUS GOOSE (Mongoose) looked fantastic in cruising home a fine winner of

the Blue Norther S., but she appeared a bit one-paced in her third-place showing in

the China Doll for Mike Puype. The gray miss posted a bullet five panels in

advance of this and is eligible to improve off her last, so we'll keep her as a

win candidate and include her in our multi-race exotics. Michael Baze will be in

the irons.

STARRY PURSUIT (Van Nistelrooy) has done nothing wrong in winning both of her

career starts in fairly comfortable fashion, but we're very turned off by the

outside post for the Jerry Hollendorfer charge. The Kentucky-bred could be any

type and would not surprise us with a good effort, but we must point out that

horses breaking from post 8 and wider have won just 5 percent of the

races at the meet. Joe Talamo will pilot the unbeaten lass.

China Doll runner-up CARNIVAL QUEEN (GB) (Carnival Dancer) earned a strong 98

BRIS Late Pace number last out and could get a solid pace at which to run in

here for conditioner Paddy Gallagher. The chestnut miss shows three useful works

leading up to this race and should offer a good late run under Alex Solis.

Group 2-placed MISSIT (Ire) (Orpen) will make her U.S. debut in this spot for

Ben Cecil and could be any kind. The European form for the bay is good, Cecil is

17 percent with shippers to the United States and the bay drilled a bullet seven-eighths

in advance of this, so she could be live in here. We'll use the miss, who will

be equipped for the first time with Lasix, in the bottom of the exotics.

SNOW DELICIOUS (Maria's Mon) closed well to beat maiden claiming foes in her

debut but now faces stakes company at two turns on the turf for the initial

time, and she'd have to be pretty special to overcome all of those obstacles.

Joel Rosario has the call on the Canadian-bred, who is not without a shot at a

top-four placing. BEL AIR SIZZLE (Unusual Heat) is another in a growing line of

turf winners produced by this sire, and it's not wise to dismiss anything from

this barn on the green. The dark bay earned her last tally against

state-bred foes and will face much better on this day while breaking from the

rail. Chantal Sutherland will guide the filly, who could reach the top four with

a good trip.

THEODORA (Fusaichi Pegasus) flew home to break her maiden in her second start

for John Shirreffs but landed in a difficult spot on this day. The expensive bay

could be a good one down the road but can't be endorsed from this corner.

BRIECAT (Adcat) flopped in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) last out and will make her

turf debut in here for Vladimir Cerin. The Florida-bred has speed but is a

wildcard on the sod, and we'll look elsewhere in this test.