San Gabriel J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

A well-matched field of nine will travel nine furlongs on the Santa Anita lawn

in Sunday's $150,000 San Gabriel H. (G2). Because there is not much separating this

group, we're compelled to look for a price, and we've landed on the Ben

Cecil-trained FERNELEY (Ire) (Ishiguru) to upset this field. We're going in this

direction primarily because we suspect this one may take the early lead, in a

field completely void of early foot. The four-year-old bay has run some good

races since coming to the United States in the summer, toppling a solid one in

an allowance tilt and putting in respectable efforts in the Eddie Read H. (G1),

Oak Tree Mile (G2) and, most recently, the Citation H. (G1). We're hopeful that

Victor Espinoza sends this one on the stretch-out, and if he secures a good

position early, he can be stubborn in the lane.

BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan) seems to be in a positive form cycle since

transferring to John Sadler two starts back, including a fine third most

recently in the Citation when rallying into a slow pace. The

six-year-old gelding has never won here but sports a trio of third-place

showings from four tries. He's also winless at this trip, but his best may

be the best of any in this cast. Mike Smith will break from the outside on the

bay.

We once thought MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean) was on the cusp of great things

in California, but the Darrell Vienna trainee is winless since the summer of

2007 and has proven us wrong. The chestnut gelding has amassed some fine placings along the way, finishing second in the Hollywood Derby (G1) last

campaign, and outran his odds when an even fifth in the Citation last out, but

he still has a ways to go to be considered among the best on the West Coast.

The rail draw and extra ground should aid Medici Code, who should vie for a

placing with his best.

PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]) has hung on the money one too many times for

us, and while the bay will surely be in the mix in the stretch, we have no plans

on placing win money on the frustrating five-year-old. Under Garrett Gomez, we

consider this one a must-use in the vertical exotics.

OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique), conditioned by the hot Neil Drysdale, was a huge

second in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) in his most recent showing and will surely

take a lot of money on this occasion. The consistent five-year-old has won or

placed in four of five lifetime tries over this oval, but was last seen in the

winner's circle in February of 2007, and we'd prefer to keep him on the bottom of

our gimmicks at a likely overbet number.

PORFIDO (Chi) (Mash One [Chi]) was a three-length allowance victor in his

yearly debut over this sod, but the Frankel charge has yet to win since. The

six-year-old should also be forwardly placed and may move up some with the

cutback in distance, but he will likely settle for a minor award for the fifth

consecutive time. David Flores has the assignment.

SWIFT WINDS (King of the Hunt) has reeled off three straight wins versus

lesser for trainer Victor Garcia, including a nice win in the California Cup

Mile H. against a useful bunch most recently, so we would not totally dismiss

the gelding at big odds. He seems like a stretch to win this, but we would not

be surprised to see him crash the exotics party with a perfect trip.

Allowance types SILENT SOUL (Afternoon Deelites)

and SARTORIAL (Charismatic) would be thrilled with a top-three placing.