San Fernando BC J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

The classiest contenders in Saturday's $200,000 San Fernando Breeders' Cup S.

(G2), the middle leg of Santa Anita's Strub series, are exiting the Malibu S.

(G1), the series opener. Several are seeking to rebound from troubled trips in

that seven-furlong affair and hope that the stretch-out to 1 1/16 miles will

help their cause. Although Malibu third MIDNIGHT LUTE (Real Quiet) will be

tackling two turns for the first time, the lightly raced colt has long been

highly regarded by trainer Bob Baffert, and he has both the pedigree and running

style to handle the added ground.

Midnight Lute has won three of five starts in his brief career, with

commendable placed efforts in the other two. After an impressive debut maiden

win at Del Mar as a juvenile, the dark bay was sidelined for a year. He returned

to action at that seaside venue this past July with an excellent second to a

race-fit rival in Sailors Sunset (Petionville), then followed up with a 3

1/2-length allowance tally. Midnight Lute made his stakes debut in the

seven-furlong Perryville S. (G3) at Keeneland, uncorking a stratospheric 115

BRIS Late Pace figure en route to a 4 3/4-length score. His chances in the

Malibu were compromised literally right out of the gate, as he was off slowly,

but he produced a 112 Late Pace rating to get up for third. The Baffert pupil

has trained aggressively since then, most recently firing a :57 4/5 bullet over

the track on Tuesday, and looks primed to deliver his trademark closing kick

beneath regular partner Victor Espinoza.

ARSON SQUAD (Brahms) raced wide in the Malibu and wound up eighth, but the

Bruce Headley charge is much better than that implies. The gelding captured the

1 1/8-mile Swaps Breeders' Cup S. (G2) at Hollywood Park last summer, and

although that race wasn't particularly fast, he has recorded triple-digit Late

Pace figures in his other two attempts at a route. Arson Squad should come

rolling from off the pace with new rider Garrett Gomez, who's winning at a 20

percent clip.

BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) had a nightmare trip in the Malibu, steadied

repeatedly in traffic through the lane before checking in seventh. A multiple

Grade 1 winner, the handsome bay boasts the best resume in the 12-horse field

and will relish returning to two turns. Moreover, the Dan Hendricks trainee

loves Santa Anita (6-4-1-0) and reunites with Alex Solis, who rode rival Arson

Squad in the Malibu. Our concern is that Brother Derek won't be able to have

things his own way on the front end, and he could be softened up by early pace

pressure. He should give a good account of himself, but we think the San

Fernando closers are a fair bit better than the ones he foiled here last winter.

AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again) rates as the most intriguing of those who didn't

take part in the Malibu. A perfect two-for-two on the dirt at Santa Anita, the

Craig Dollase pupil won an allowance two starts back over Armenian Summer

(Siberian Summer), who just missed by a whisker in the San Pasqual H. (G2) last

Saturday. Last time out, Awesome Gem finished second in the grassy Sir Beaufort

S. (G3) to the solid Kip Deville (Kipling). The chestnut is capable of the upset

here at a square price and is worth a flyer.

SPRING AT LAST (Silver Deputy), a half-brother to Grade 1 queen Sharp Lisa

(Dixieland Band), ran a terrific race to finish second in the Malibu in his

debut for Doug O'Neill. In his previous starts back East for Todd Pletcher,

however, he looked like a one-turn specialist, despite his pedigree. The dark

bay clearly has the talent to crack the top three if he copes with the second

turn in his new California environment.

The John Shirreffs-trained A. P. XCELLENT (A.P. Indy) figures to flash speed

from the rail in his stakes bow. He didn't show much in four starts before

switching to the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park, where he broke his maiden and

took an entry-level allowance. While we respect his connections, we'd rather

give him a start on the dirt at this level. The same goes for U.S. debutante

HELLO SUNDAY (Fr) (Poliglote [GB]) from the Bobby Frankel barn. The bay wasn't

disgraced when facing tougher opposition in France, but he's never tasted dirt

and shows only one work on the Cushion Track.

Pomona Derby winner SENSATIONAL SCORE (Wild Rush) has class questions to

answer, as does British Columbia Derby (Can-G3) victor HALO STEVEN (Halo's

Image). BIG MISTAKE (Broken Vow) was beaten a long way when ninth in the

Hollywood Derby (G1) on the turf and hasn't done anything on the dirt to

recommend him here. SOUL CITY SLEW (Slew City Slew) had been plying his trade in

starter allowances before taking a successful class hike on the Cushion Track,

but this looks ambitious. OBJECTIVE (El Corredor) was last of 12 in the Malibu

and would be a total shock in his first start for Laura Wohlers.