San Luis Rey

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Six of the top seven finishers from the February 21 San Luis Obispo H. (G2) will

return in Saturday's $150,000 San Luis Rey H. (G2), but we'll pick a different

face in HIGH COURT DRAMA (Ire) (Theatrical [Ire]). An allowance/optional

claiming winner at

Hollywood last November in his U.S. debut, the Irish import followed

that effort with a good second over the Cushion Track in the Native Diver H.

(G3). He returned to turf in the San Marcos S. (G2) and threatened to upset

heavily-favored Loup Breton (Ire) (Anabaa) in midstretch before falling a

half-length short in second. The Doug O'Neill trainee earned excellent BRIS

numbers in those starts and has been freshened for this appearance. The

four-year-old will be close to the early lead beneath Michael Baze and looks

capable of registering his first stakes win.

DYNAMIC RANGE (Dynaformer) likes longer distances but faltered when making

his second stakes start as the favorite in the San Luis Obispo, faltering to

seventh. We still think highly of his potential in the Southern California turf

ranks and won't be surprised to see the Julio Canani pupil rebound with a

victory under new jockey David Flores. His BRIS numbers stamp him as a serious

win threat, and his price will be better this time.

BOURBON BAY (Sligo Bay [Ire]) powered his way clear through the stretch and posted a

triple-digit BRIS Speed rating for his 4 1/4-length decision in the San Luis

Obispo, and the four-year-old gelding will bring a two-race win skein into this

event. Conditioned by Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale, he likes the course/trip and

is eligible to keep things rolling with jockey Rafael Bejarano, but we fear a

slight regression off of a pair of career-best efforts.

SUDDEN WAR (Arg) (Sunray Spirit) will likely show the way under Alex Solis

and held well for third after setting the pace in the San Luis Obispo last time,

but he still has some class concerns in this spot. However, the lightly-raced

gelding is eligible to keep improving for Kenny McPeek and can't be dismissed

from consideration for the bottom of the exotics.

UNUSUAL SUSPECT (Unusual Heat) figures to be closing strongly for Barry

Abrams and brings a pair of consecutive 104 BRIS Late Pace ratings into the

race. The six-year-old rallied well for runner-up honors in the San Luis Obispo,

but he's been known to leave himself too much to do in the stretch. We wouldn't

dissuade any one from using him in the top three. ROMP (Arg) (Incurable

Optimist) is another late runner to consider for a minor award. The six-year-old

gelding hasn't been a serious factor in his last three starts for Kristin

Mulhall, but he always tries hard and could pass a lot of runners in the stretch

Saturday.

LEASE OF LIFE (Cozzene) has turned a couple of solid recent showings for Mike

Mitchell, but we can't endorse his chances at this level going 1 1/2 miles.

UNUSUAL SMOKE (Unusual Heat) drew the far outside and exits a less-than-stellar

third versus allowance rivals nine days earlier. We'll let him beat us on the

class hike. OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique) has some back class and likes a marathon

route of ground, but he doesn't look sharp enough to make a significant impact.

QUASICOBRA (Wild Rush) probably needs an easier spot to be effective.