San Gorgonio J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

All last summer, we kept waiting patiently for LIFE IS SWEET (Storm Cat) to

seek a Zenyatta-free zone on turf, but that road wasn't taken. Finally, in

Saturday's $150,000 San Gorgonio H. (G2) at Santa Anita, the John Shirreffs mare

will revert to turf for the first time since her three-year-old campaign. With

her terrific current form, and the fact that both of her most logical rivals

have questions to answer, Life is Sweet is too attractive for us to pass up.

The Wygod homebred has a lethal turn of foot, as evidenced by her

last-to-first heroics in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (G1) in her latest

venture. Life is Sweet employed similarly eye-popping tactics in the El Encino

S. (G2), La Canada S. (G2) and Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1) early last

season, and a repeat of any of those efforts would sweep her into the winner's

circle here. The one possible drawback is the lack of a meaningful early pace in

the San Gorgonio, a situation she encountered in her only two prior turf starts

in the 2008 Sands Point S. (G2) and Calder Oaks. Life is Sweet was still a

furiously closing second in both, and she's a much more formidable animal at

this point in her career. We look for her to come charging through the stretch

with regular rider Garrett Gomez.

Juddmonte Farms' homebred TREAT GENTLY (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) is capable of

springing an upset on her day, and the key question is whether she'll be ready

to do so Saturday in her first start for Bill Mott. A French Group 2 winner in

2008, the year she chased home the likes of Zarkava and Dar Re Mi (GB)

(Singspiel [Ire]) in the Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1), the well-bred bay raced only

twice in 2009. Treat Gently threatened to make her mark on the division after a

cozy debut win for the late Bobby Frankel, but she suffered a setback, and was

not at her best when sixth in the E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1). The classy mare has

tactical speed and promises to get first run on Life is Sweet. If Treat Gently

is fully primed, she could hold on for new pilot Rafael Bejarano.

We have great respect for the late-running DIAMONDRELLA (GB) (Rock of

Gibraltar [Ire]), who was simply devastating when defeating champion Forever

Together in the Just a Game S. (G1) and First Lady S. (G1). Had Diamondrella

then advanced from a mile to nine furlongs, as part of a logical progression, we

would have been more enthusiastic about her chances here. Unfortunately, she has

experienced a lot of changes in the interim. She dropped back down in distance

for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, winding up 11th, and was subsequently

transferred to Gary Stevens. Back up to a mile in the Matriarch S. (G1), she

closed for third, but did not look like her usually brilliant self. Diamondrella

has the raw ability to crack the top three, but before endorsing her

unreservedly, we'd like to see more of how she's coping in Southern California.

Alex Solis has the return call.

CENTURY PARK (General Meeting) figures to set the pace from her rail post,

and while she doesn't appear good enough to win, she is qualified to hang on

stubbornly for a minor award. Successful in the 1 1/4-mile California Cup

Distance H. two back, the Bob Baffert filly is coming off a game second in the

one-mile Harold C. Ramser Sr. H. (G3). Her chances largely hinge upon pace rival

CZECHERS (Indian Charlie), who is cross-entered to Sunday's Monrovia H. (G3).

With Czechers out of the picture, Century Park would find things much easier on

the front end.

CAT BY THE TALE (Tale of the Cat) never finished worse than third in 2009,

and the Neil Drysdale filly comes off solid thirds in the Las Palmas H. (G2) and

Bayakoa H. (G2). This is a tougher spot, but her strong closing kick and

reliable attitude make her an exotics threat. ROSA GRACE (GB) (Lomitas [GB])

could be dismissed as a fringe player among these, yet she wasn't beaten far

when fifth in the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) last out, and the addition of blinkers

could wake her up.

Multiple Argentinean Group 2 victress TEAMGEIST (Arg) (Mutakddim) hasn't been

quite the same force in the United States, and the Ken McPeek mare would need to

step it up to factor here. LAVENDER SKY (Mt. Livermore), a terrific second to

Wait a While in the 2008 running of this race, hasn't shown that level of form

in a long time. We'll be interested to see if the switch to Julio Canani helps.

Czechers looks out of her depth and would be better suited to the Monrovia.