San Diego

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday's $300,000 San Diego H. (G2) marks the return of WELL ARMED

(Tiznow), who got as close to Curlin (Smart Strike) as anybody on dirt has of

late when eight lengths third in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) last out on March

29. A gate-to-wire winner of the San Antonio H. (G2) in his start before then,

Well Armed can put his early speed to good use in this 1 1/16-mile Polytrack

test at Del Mar.

Indeed, the lack of experience over Del Mar's Polytrack is about the only potential

stumbling block for Well Armed, who looks like he can take early control of this

10-horse affair and say "catch me if you can." Trainer Eoin Harty has clearly

placed an emphasis on stamina in this one's recent works, with a four-furlong

blowout earlier this week added on for good measure. We have little doubt Well

Armed will be physically ready for a top effort in the San Diego.

One horse who adapted fairly well to Del Mar's new surface last summer was

SURF CAT (Sir Cat), who finished a clear second in the seven-furlong Pat O'Brien

H. (G2). The six-time Grade 2 winner recently got caught up in a futile speed duel

with the since retired Heatseeker (Ire) in the Californian S. (G2),

and should be better with rating slightly off the pace in this one. After

winning seven of his first 11 starts, however, Surf Cat has won only two of

eight the past two seasons, something to ponder when accepting the usual short

price.

One of the more talented synthetic surface sprinters in training, REBELLION

(GB) (Mozart [Ire]), is seemingly here to open up further options as Breeders'

Cup time approaches. With a solid performance here, Rebellion could be pointed

toward either the Sprint (G1) or Dirt Mile, the latter being a misnomer as it is

scheduled for Santa Anita's synthetic surface the next two seasons. Rebellion

enters off a last-to-first, 1 1/2-length score in the Ack Ack H. (G3) going 7 1/2

furlongs, and the additional furlong perhaps won't be that much of a hurdle.

MOSTACOLLI MORT (Hold for Gold) has won three of his last four against

allowance and optional claiming company, and appears ready to tackle stakes foes

once again. The four-year-old gelding never made a splash in top-level turf

stakes last fall, but it should be easier to make his presence felt against this

kind. RACKETEER (Awesome Again) has run well at times, though not as much of

late. He was beaten a little more than a length by Heatseeker in the Native

Diver H. (G3) last December, but was a non-threatening seventh in the Hollywood

Gold Cup (G1) last time in his debut for trainer Barry Abrams. GLOBAL HUNTER

(Arg) (Jade Hunter) was a nice third behind Surf Cat in the Mervyn LeRoy H. (G2)

three back in his American debut and might appreciate stretching back out around

two turns. He's also cross-entered to Sunday's Eddie Read H. (G1) on the turf.

TALL TEXAN (Point Given) endured his first loss in four tries when runner-up

to Mostacolli Mort last out, and appears to have a bright future ahead of him,

though his BRIS Speed ratings to this point don't wow us. MAGNUM (Arg) (El

Compinche), YOU GOT ME ROCKING (Aljabr) and MR NAPPER TANDY (GB) (Bahamian

Bounty) would be surprises based on their recent form versus lesser.