San Francisco Mile J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A field of nine has been entered to go over Golden Gate Fields' turf

in Saturday's $150,000 San Francisco Mile (G2), but with the early scratch of

GALLANT SON (Malabar Gold), only eight are expected to line up.

We're tabbing the lightly raced RED SUN (Redattore [Brz]) to keep his grass

record perfect in this event. The Carla Gaines-trained four-year-old has

competed just five times, with his only loss coming as a runner-up effort

against maiden rivals in his career bow. That occurred in January 2009, and the

bay gelding didn't return until this past November, when he broke through with a

1 3/4-length score while making his turf debut. Red Sun captured a one-mile turf

test at Hollywood Park next out by four lengths, and should relish the return to

the green here after gutting out a neck victory over the synthetic Pro-Ride at

Santa Anita in an off-the-turf allowance/optional claimer last out. Regular

jockey Rafael Bejarano will be riding at Hollywood Park on Saturday, so Michael

Martinez picks up the mount.

MASSONE (Menifee) hasn't had much winning success on the green, posting just

one victory from five starts, but the Ron McAnally runner does own three

placings. The most recent of those came in the Sir Beaufort S. (G3) while going

the distance in December, and the four-year-old chestnut was also a close fourth

in the Oak Tree Derby (G2) last November. That was his only off-the-board run

over the weeds, as his win came against allowance/optional claimers at Del Mar

last season, and he also ran third in the Cinema H. (G3) at Hollywood and

Alcatraz S. at Golden Gate. Massone's numbers are on par with others in here,

and the colt could finally earn that elusive first stakes score in this spot.

Frank Alvarado has the call.

MONTEREY JAZZ (Thunderello) will challenge Red Sun for pacesetting duties and

could forget to stop if he takes command early. The Craig Dollase charge was

just caught on the Tapeta last out in an allowance at one mile, and actually

broke his maiden over Golden Gate's turf in June 2007. He didn't do so well in

his last two against graded rivals, but this field shouldn't offer the same

challenge. Monterey Jazz owns century-topping BRIS E2 Pace figures and will be

tough to run down under Tyler Baze.

GOLDEN BALLS (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) returned from an 18-month layoff to run

a close fourth in the Arcadia H. (G2) last out at Santa Anita. The Jim Cassidy-conditioned six-year-old was only 1 3/4 lengths back of the winner

that day and probably needed the tightener. He could jump up in a big way here,

so consider for the top three with Brice Blanc aboard. Millionaire BOLD

CHIEFTAIN (Chief Seattle) has proven adept on both turf and synthetic, making

him a threat in the exotics. The veteran seven-year-old just missed by three

parts of a length when third in this event last year and could easily improve on

that finish this time around. Russell Baze in the irons only helps his chances.

KELLY LEAK (Runaway Groom) gained fame last season by beating eventual

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird (Birdstone) in the Sunland Derby, but

has been well-beaten in four starts since. We don't think he'll turn it around

here. Neither SIR AL (Ire) (Desert Prince [Ire]) nor RUN IT (Cherokee Run)

appear fast enough to challenge these.