Sham J

Saturday's $100,000 Sham S. (G3) has not drawn a deep field of

three-year-olds, but the nine-furlong event does have one big draw, BOB AND JOHN

(Seeking the Gold). He's the only entrant with viable Kentucky Derby (G1)

aspirations at this point and looks like a standout in the six-horse field. The

dark bay colt sat close to a moderate pace before reeling off a facile allowance

score over the track last time, earning a 100 BRIS Speed rating, and the

improving Bob Baffert trainee will have to seriously regress off that effort to

lose here. Bob and John was pretty good at two, finishing first in a listed

stakes (but then disqualified from a six-length romp) and third in the Hollywood Futurity

(G1), but he appears ready to take his game to another level at three.

SACRED LIGHT (Holy Bull) owns the best chance at an upset. Trained by David

Hofmans, the gray colt earned his first career win via disqualification in his

second start last summer and then headed to the sidelines for the rest of the

year. He trained forwardly for his return, the same allowance race that Bob and

John captured on January 20, but the late-running colt trailed in last behind

slow early fractions and had no chance to catch the winner turning for home.

Sacred Light did admirably pass rivals through the stretch, missing second by a

nose and earning a 115 Late Pace rating, and he figures to improve off that tightener. Saturday's field lacks early speed, which figures to compromise the

gray colt's chances once again, but Sacred Light can turn in another encouraging

performance.

GENRE (GB) (Orpen) raced exclusively on turf in Europe and turned in a decent

showing when making his U.S. and dirt debut in November's Real Quiet S.,

finishing second but earning the victory over Bob and John by disqualification.

Genre wasn't affected by the trouble in the stretch, and didn't earn a very

high Speed number (82), but he still ran pretty well and could continue to show more

for conditioner Ben Cecil. We'll look for the stalker to grab a top three

placing.

HAWKINSVILLE (Service Stripe) was claimed for $25,000 out of his maiden win

last November and made his first start for trainer Wesley Ward a winning one

last out, defeating a field of starter allowance rivals with a strong move from

off the pace. The chestnut colt made up a lot of ground off moderate fractions

last time and could grab part with his late kick on Saturday.

SKY DIVING (Aptitude) could show the way early for his uncoupled stablemate,

Bob and John, but he had to ship to Bay Meadows to earn his first win last out

and could find these rivals a little too tough. WOODY BE QUICK (Woodman)

finished fourth and last in the San Rafael S. (G2) and may not be fast enough to

make an impact here.