San Gorgonio

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eleven fillies and mare are set to battle in the $150,000 San Gorgonio H.

(G3) Saturday at Santa Anita on the main track. The 1 1/8-mile contest brings

together a good combination of speed and stalkers which should result in a good

showing. An impediment to the race is the five inches of rain expected to fall

in the area this weekend, forcing Santa Anita officials to take the race off the

grass. A move from the turf will not only result in a grade drop, but most likely

a series of scratches as well.

Las Palmas H. (G2) victress THEATER R. N. (Theatrical [Ire]) looks to be in

the driver's seat. Coming off a two-month layoff since winning the Las Palmas,

the Bobby Frankel trainee has a 3-2-0-0 line at Santa Anita, with all three starts

coming at Saturday's distance. The five-year-old mare put in some nice closing

speed last out, posting a 121 BRIS Late Pace rating. With four horses in the

field looking to set the early pace, this late speed will most likely be an

advantage in the end. Rene Douglas is back to repeat his performance from the Las

Palmas.

URAIB (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) is coming off a win versus stakes company

last out when the five-year-old mare took the Hermosa Beach H. at Hollywood. The

Sanford Shuman charge finished second to Theater R. N. twice in their two

meetings against each other. Uraib owns one victory at 1 1/8-miles, coming at

Santa Anita in March against optional claiming foes. Jon Court, who has ridden

to the winner's circle six times in the past week, will have the reins.

SHEZSOSPIRITUAL (Fly Till Dawn) is making her first start for trainer Tim

Yakteen. The five-year-old chestnut looks to go to the lead early and possesses

the talent to fight it out when it comes to the finish line. On top of this, the

mare has experience on an off track, placing second in March of 2003 at the

Arcadia, California, oval on a track listed as wet-fast. Tyler Baze has the

call.

MEGAHERTZ (GB) (Pivotal) exits off a close second in

the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) to Pellegrino (Brz) (Nugget Point [Ire]) in her first start since

finishing a disappointing 11th in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1).

The six-year-old possesses nice finishing speed, including a 121 Late Pace three

back in the Gamely Breeders' Cup H. (G1), powering home but coming up short in

the end by a length. She is untested off the turf, however, so a switch to the

main track could hinder her abilities.

FENCELINENEIGHBOR (Wild Rush) is not stranger to the main track. She has two

starts under her belt on a track less than perfect, winning one. She has also run

in the money six times in 10 starts on a track listed as fast. Her only

hindrance is her record at Santa Anita, in which she has only landed on the board

once in four starts.

HOH BUZZARD (Ire) (Alhaarth) exits from the Matriarch S. (G1) and a

fifth-place finish. If the five-year-old is able to stay near the front of the

pack, she could get up for part, although the talented closers sitting off the

pace will make that difficult if she finds herself in a speed duel in the early

parts of this race. DOLLY WELLS (Arg) (Poliglote [GB]) would have been making

her first start on the North American sod. The rain will keep her on the

main track, where she has performed well in her past five starts since moving

north from Argentina. A dual stakes winner in her homeland, her last four starts

in the United States have all produced runs in the money.

PENNY'S FORTUNE (Storm Cat) is coming off a two-month layoff

after holding on to win the Audrey Skirball-Kenis S. The four-year-old filly has

three starts under her belt on a fast track, but has never run on an off track.

Despite this, she has landed on the board twice out of four attempts at Santa

Anita and is 1-1-0-0 at 1 1/8-miles on the turf. ASK FOR THE MOON (Fr) (Dr Fong) will be making

her North American debut in this one, as well as her first dirt start. The

four-year-old filly was on a five-race win streak before finishing a

disappointing seventh last out. Victories in her streak include the Saint-Alary

(Fr-G1) and Prix Penelope (Fr-G3). She will be coming off a six-month layoff here and

will also try Lasix for the first time.

DROUGHT BREAKER (Steinlen [GB]) has 10 starts on the main track, landing on

the board in eight of them. Despite this, her BRIS Speed ratings are well below

the average and her front-running style, which has brought her success in the

past, could hurt her here. NAVAJA (NZ) (Daggers Drawn) came home 31 lengths back

last out in the Dahlia H. (G3) at Hollywood and is will probably be outclassed

in this one.