Rivalries renewed in Gamely, Los Angeles

Rivalries renewed in Gamely,

Los Angeles

Brice Blanc, who picked up the mount aboard Malibu Pier last time, will be

back in the saddle Monday. Cutting back in trip to 1 1/8 grassy miles, the same

distance as the Santa Ana and a furlong shorter than the Santa Barbara,

shouldn't faze the tractable runner.

The talented Cozi Rosie, who returned from a layoff to capture the Buena

Vista going away, hopes to have more pace on tap here. The John Sadler pupil

could get the right set-up courtesy of former Brazilian Horse of the Year CELTIC

PRINCESS (Brz) (Public Purse). Unraced since a front-running allowance score on

December 30 at Santa Anita, the seven-year-old mare has fired a couple of

bullets recently for A.C. Avila.

Turning Top has been a fairly consistent presence for Simon Callaghan, but

she might be put in the shade by her up-and-coming stablemate DUBAWI HEIGHTS

(GB) (Dubawi). The stalker extended her winning skein to three in the April 30

Wilshire H. (G3), and gets a stiffer class test at this level.

The Ron McAnally-trained ECLAIR DE LUNE (Ger) (Marchand de Sable) was fifth

to Malibu Pier and Turning Top two starts back in the Santa Ana. That effort

sums up her frustrations at Santa Anita, for she has yet to hit the board in

four tries over the course. Rather than lining up in the Santa Barbara again,

she shipped to Keeneland for the April 16 Jenny Wiley S. (G2) and performed with

great credit. Dead last of 10 after hitting the gate at the start, she closed

for fifth at a 1 1/16-mile trip short of her best.

Perhaps fittingly for a Richard L. Duchossois colorbearer, her best efforts

came at Arlington Park last summer. At her owner's track, Eclair de Lune was a

fine second to the ill-fated Tuscan Evening (Ire), last year's Gamely winner, in

the Modesty H. (G3), before posting a mild upset in the Beverly D. S. (G1). She

is likely to use the Gamely as a springboard to Chicago.

Chilean Group 1 winner MADERA CASTANA (Chi) (Indy Dancer) is another who ran

admirably in defeat, albeit versus lesser. Making her U.S. debut in a one-mile

allowance/optional claimer at Hollywood, she dropped 19 lengths back, yet

rallied furiously to miss by three-quarters of a length. Trainer Ruben Cardenas

made a rider switch to Patrick Valenzuela, ensuring a more forwardly-placed trip

in the Gamely.

SUPREME SUMMIT (Cactus Ridge) had left Cost of Freedom and GATO GO WIN (City

Place) behind when runner-up in last fall's Ancient Title (G1), and he followed

up with a closing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). Third to Regally

Ready (More Than Ready) and CAMP VICTORY (Forest Camp) in his turf bow in the

April 16 San Simeon H. (G3), Supreme Summit has been scorching up the worktab of

late for Mike Puype. The confirmed closer would enjoy the prospect of a mad pace

war in the Los Angeles.

An intriguing new shooter to the sprint division is INDIAN FIREWATER (Indian

Charlie), who barely lasted by a nose while wiring the January 15 San Fernando

S. (G2). Freshened following tiring fourths in the February 5 Strub S. (G2) and

the March 6 Santana Mile, he shortens up for Bob Baffert. In his last appearance

on the Cushion Track, he rolled in the 7 1/2-furlong Nashville S. during the

autumn meet.