San Marcos

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Trainer Neil Drysdale has three of the nine entrants for Monday's $150,000

San Marcos S. (G2) at Santa Anita, and we're going to tab the savvy conditioner

to fill up the top three slots in this contest. We're not sure if it's ever been

done, but his chances at accomplishing this feat seem viable, and we'll give the

edge to ARTISTE ROYAL (Ire) (Danehill) on this day. A two-time Grade 1 hero, the

bay ridgling had a strong 2008 campaign, even if he did win only once from six

starts. The eight-year-old bagged the Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1),

finished second in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) and third in the Turf

Classic S. (G1). Eleventh last out in the ridiculously deep Hong Kong Cup

(HK-G1), the Irish-bred should find this field infinitely more suitable to him

beneath Garrett Gomez.

OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique) was last seen finishing a game second in the

Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) at 12 panels and cuts back a quarter-mile for this

engagement. The gelded six-year-old has visited the winner's circle just once

since 2007, but seemingly always runs well, so we think he's a very logical

exotics player in this bunch.

Concluding the Drysdale trifecta will be MARSH SIDE (Gone West), who came out of

nowhere to upset the Canadian International S. (Can-G1) last out for Drysdale

and will make his first start over this turf course on this occasion. The dark

bay six-year-old went a long time between wins, but our thinking is that

Drysdale has figured him out and that he will run back to his Canadian form. The

inconsistent Kentucky-bred will be storming home late -- if he shows up --

beneath Javier Castellano.

Two-time Grade 2 winner SPRING HOUSE (Chester House) has the best chance to

spoil the Drysdale party, as the gelding has been among

the better turf stayers on the West Coast over the past few years. The dark bay,

who took the Del Mar H. (G2) in August, has kept tremendous company as of late

and might actually find this to be a minor drop in class under Alex Solis. We're

not thrilled about the widest draw in here, but we love the prep the Julio

Canani runner received last out and consider him a big threat with a sensible ride.

MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean) has compiled a nice progression of races which

should have him peaking in here for Darrell Vienna, but his best still might not be

good enough for those mentioned above him. The Grade 2 winner has always shown

that he can run, and he was a huge second at this distance in the 2007 Hollywood

Derby (G1), so we feel compelled to use him in this race. The presence of Rafael

Bejarano should only aid the five-year-old.

STREAM CAT (Black Minnaloushe) has some appeal if he can run back to his romp

in the Arlington H. (G3) for Patrick Biancone, and we consider the gelding a

must use in the exotics. The Kentucky-bred has decent tactical speed, a good

draw near the rail, and has posted a trio of maintenance works to prepare for

this run. Joe Talamo has the assignment. FERNELEY (Ire) (Ishiguru) had every chance late in the San Gabriel

H. (G2)

but couldn't deliver for Ben Cecil, and we expect regression in this test.

Seventh in the Citation H. (G1) two prior, the five-year-old was a useful fifth

in the Eddie Read H. (G1) in early 2008 and is proven to have some

quality. We have concerns, however, about him duplicating his last, and we are

not confident that he'll excel at 10 panels.

BLACK ASTOR (Black Minnaloushe) has good early speed and is a useful

campaigner for Lisa Lewis, but we can't envision the five-year-old being in the

mix late against this type. COVER MAGIC (Alymagic) would shock us with a

top-four placing in this route. The chestnut is consistent with lesser but has

little chance in here. Marathoner FITZ FLAG (Arg) (Flag Down) has one win in 18 tries in the United States,

coming in November 2006 at Turf Paradise. We've used this horse on occasion, but

he's yet to reward us, so now we must give up on the nine-year-old.