San Marcos J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Eight turf handicappers will travel 1 1/4 miles over the Santa Anita lawn in

hopes of bagging the $150,000 San Marcos S. (G2) on Saturday. We'll side with

the four-year-old MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean) in this spot. Trained by Darrell

Vienna, the gelding has never crossed the finish line worse than third in five

grassy tries on U.S. turf and earned his lifetime-best BRIS Speed number (107) at

today's distance. The chestnut should have a nice target to run at in the lane

with the two inside horses likely establishing a decent pace, and we feel that

Martin Pedroza will push the right buttons in order to pull off the minor upset.

CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) (Danehill) was a clear second in the Hollywood Turf Cup

S. (G1) most recently and has every right to improve in his second start for

Bobby Frankel. The impeccably bred five-year-old has faced stronger competition

than he will see on this occasion with solid results, finishing on-the-board in 10

of 12 career starts. The bay is far from a win machine and he might be worth

trying to beat in here, but we wouldn't be shocked if he gets up beneath

Garrett Gomez.

OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique) has placed in all three tries at 10 furlongs,

including a third in last year's edition of this contest for conditioner Neil Drysdale. The gelded bay

will be making his third start off the shelf and exits an even fourth-place

effort in the Hollywood Turf Cup. The one-paced five-year-old is always in the hunt and

should be good enough to finish in the top three. Rafael Bejarano has the

assignment.

Multiple Group 3 hero DECADO (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) finished a non-threatening sixth

in a loaded allowance race on opening day and could move up for Paddy Gallagher.

The five-year-old earned a strong 104 BRIS Late Pace figure in his tune-up for this

one and the dark bay should appreciate the added two furlongs in here. The Irish-bred should be used in the gimmicks under Alex Solis simply because we're not

sure how much talent he possesses.

Grade 2 victor RAMAZUTTI (Honor Grades) is well drawn on the rail, is the

arguable speed of the race and hails from the mighty Todd Pletcher barn.

However, we still can't endorse him in this one. NIAGARA CAUSEWAY (Giant's

Causeway) is still eligible for a second-level allowance race and seems better

suited to that level at

this stage of his career.

Neither MASTERLY (Arg) (Southern Halo) nor ROCKET LEGS (Dynaformer) impresses

us.