San Fernando J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

The $150,000 San Fernando S. (G2) wraps up a trio of graded stakes at Santa

Anita, and we'll look for some value among the 12 four-year-olds. CHEROKEE

ARTIST (Cherokee Run) didn't beat much when capturing an entry-level

allowance/optional claiming event on the Breeders' Cup Friday undercard, but the

colt displayed a strong finishing kick that impressed us. Given his back class,

we think he'll fit just fine against these rivals.

Trained by Graham Motion, Cherokee Artist went straight from a maiden special

weight victory at Churchill Downs last May to a runner-up finish in the Ohio

Derby (G2). He missed by only a half-length when second in the Barbaro S. (G3)

next time out and followed with a third behind SLEW'S TIZNOW (Tiznow) when

trying the Polytrack at Del Mar in the El Cajon S. Cherokee Artist's next start

is a complete throw out -- he didn't like the turf -- but he quickly rebounded

in the aforementioned allowance/optional claiming victory, recording a 101 BRIS

Speed and a whopping 115 Late Pace ratings. The bay will enter the San Fernando

on the upswing, and we like his chances.

MUNY (Najran) looms as a wire-to-wire threat. The Mike Puype trainee is a

candidate to shake loose early, but there is some speed to his immediate outside

in WISHFUL TOMCAT (Tactical Cat). Regardless of that rival, Muny looks

dangerous. He recorded a game front-running decision in the grassy, 1 1/8-mile

Oak Tree Derby (G2) two starts back and led most of the way last time in the

10-furlong Hollywood Derby (G1) before weakening to fifth, beaten only 1 3/4

lengths. The cutback to 1 1/16 miles should favor him, and we've witnessed

countless turf horses transfer their form to the synthetic tracks in Southern

California.

MADEO (Mizzen Mast) is a logical challenger for the win based on his back

class, but we're leery of supporting him at low odds on the Pro-Ride. He is a

two-time winner over Cushion Track, but the John Shirreffs-trained colt really

came to hand when moving to the turf this summer. He remains a very viable top

three contender, but we'll use him on the bottom of the gimmicks.

EL GATO MALO (El Corredor) offered a solid run for third in the Sir Beaufort

S. (G3) last time and appears to be rounding back into form for Craig Dollase. He

was one of the more promising three-year-olds on the West Coast last year, but

the gelding exited his score in the Lone Star Derby (G3) last May with an injury

and wasn't seen again until late November. This will be his third start off the

layoff, so consider for the exotics.

BOOTED (A.P. Indy) will step up in company in good form, winning a six-furlong

turf maiden prior to an allowance score last out on the Pro-Ride, and we respect his chances here.

We still have some class concerns, but we'll include him on a couple of tickets.

Slew's Tiznow is another logical top three candidate, but he is stuck in an

outside post (10) and figures to be one of the betting choices under Rafael

Bejarano. We'll let him beat us. TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) is too inconsistent

for us to back with any confidence. He ran big when capturing the Swaps S. (G2)

four starts back, but the gelding hasn't come close to duplicating that effort

in his last three outings.

Wishful Tomcat was sold and transferred to Bobby Frankel following his

wire-to-wire victory in the Discovery H. (G3) last out, but that came over the

dirt at Aqueduct and the New York-bred has never run over a synthetic track.

We'll give him a race over the foreign surface. DAKOTA PHONE (Zavata) will pick

up the services of Garrett Gomez, but he's stuck on the far outside and will

need to show significant improvement to knock off these rivals. We can't

recommend SILVER SWORD (Smart Strike) in his two-turn debut. NOWNOWNOW

(Whywhywhy) doesn't look sharp enough to challenge and is probably better on

turf.

Blue Exit (Pulpit) was an early scratch.