San Gorgonio J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Champion WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) is the class of Monday's rescheduled

$150,000 San Gorgonio H. (G2) at Santa Anita, and Todd Pletcher has picked a

good spot for his multiple Grade 1-winning charge to make her five-year-old bow. The storm that hit California last weekend

forced the postponement of this nine-furlong test, and the extra time has helped

her chances by ensuring firm turf.

Wait a While owns only three off-the-board placings in her 19-race career and

hasn't lost a step, concluding 2007 with a nice runner-up finish to Eclipse

Award finalist Precious Kitten (Catienus) in the Matriarch S. (G1). She was a

nice winner of the Ballston Spa H. (G2) in August, and brings regular

rider Garrett Gomez into this event. The pair should find themselves sharing yet

another winner's circle.

COSTUME (GB) (Danehill) will go here for trainer Bobby Frankel off fourths in

the Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) and Mrs. Revere S.

(G2) in her past two. The four-year-old bay was forced to race wide in both of

those starts, and just missed by a half-length when second in the Oak Tree S.

(Eng-G3) prior to coming to the United States. Costume is a top threat to come

running late, especially if she gets a good trip under Rafael Bejarano.

The Neil Drysdale-trained SOHGOL (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) posted a gate-to-wire victory in the Hermosa Beach H. over Hollywood Park's turf

last out. Her BRIS numbers are on par with every

other runner in here except Wait a While, and Sohgol will be tough

in the top three. David Flores, who last rode her to a

runner-up finish in the Wilshire H. (G3), returns to the saddle.

HUCKING HOT (GB) (Desert Prince [Ire]) was a head second in the March 3 China Doll S. on Santa

Anita's turf in her sophomore debut, but the Paddy Gallagher trainee wasn't seen

again until taking the Audrey Skirball-Kenis S. over Hollywood's turf in

mid-November. Last out, the bay lass was sixth in the Dahlia H.

(G2), but her effort was better than it appears on paper. The newly turned

four-year-old has a shot in the exotics with Victor Espinoza aboard.

LAVENDER SKY (Mt. Livermore) is still looking for her second win but has hit

the board in all but one of her races. The four-year-old chestnut was third in

the Dahlia most recently, but her late kick might not bring her close enough to

show in this one.