Sir Beaufort

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Thirteen sophomores will travel one mile over the Santa Anita lawn

in the $100,000 Sir Beaufort S. (G3) on Friday, with the Christophe

Clement-trained GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) being the one to beat. Although the

bay colt has not lived up to the pedestal we put him on earlier in the

year, he looks like tons the class in this field. The Kentucky-bred was last

seen finishing a troubled seventh, beaten only 2 1/2 lengths, in the Hollywood

Derby (G1), and he may benefit from the cutback in trip. Garrett

Gomez must navigate a sensible trip from the 12 post.

FIFTEEN LOVE (Point Given) hails from the mighty Juddmonte stable and is in

the hands of training genius Bobby Frankel, so the dark bay is a contender with

those facts alone. A useful horse in Europe for his first nine starts, the

Kentucky-bred finished a closing third over the Cushion Track in the War Chant

S. most recently, earning an impressive 113 BRIS Late Pace number. We expect a

good deal of early speed in here, so the colt should get a nice target turning

for home under Edgar Prado.

Baldwin S. (G3) hero TEN MEROPA (Johannesburg) has failed to hit the board in

two subsequent starts since the Baldwin for Jeff Mullins, but the dark bay has

talent and could easily make a late run against these. We'll completely excuse

his eighth-place finish in the recent Morvich H. (G3) and expect vast

improvement at a big price for this one.

MEDJOOL (Monarchos) looked strong in a recent allowance score over the main

strip for Julio Canani, and the chestnut will make his turf debut in this

contest. The Grade 2-placed colt is out of a half-sister to champion Point Given

(Thunder Gulch), who has proven to be a useful turf sire, and it's more than

possible that this one could be better on the grass than the main track. The

price should be right for those willing to take a stab.

The unheralded SKY CAPE (Najran) seemingly always outruns his odds for

Kristin Mulhall, including a win at nearly 13-1 in the La Jolla H. (G2) two

prior. The talented turf performer has finished first or second in all four

efforts over this sod, has the right running style to make a late impact and has

trained well in advance of this grass test. Joel Rosario will be in the irons.

LIBERIAN FREIGHTER (Bertrando) has natural speed and the rail impost for Neil

Drysdale, making him a threat in this bulky field. The California-bred gelding

has compiled a smart 9-3-1-5 career turf mark and comes in off of a fine

allowance tally, so he appears to be a logical inclusion in the vertical

exotics. EL GATO MALO (El Corredor) will make his grass debut in here for Craig

Dollase, and he's yet another who could be in the mix with a smooth transition

to the sod. The gelded sophomore bagged the San Rafael S. (G3) earlier this

campaign and is among the better three-year-olds on the West Coast, so he can

place with his best.

DAKOTA PHONE (Zavata) has never been one of our favorites, but he is on

the steady improve for Jerry Hollendorfer. The gelded bay rolled home in the

recent Forty Niner S. at Golden Gate, and he could finish off some gimmicks with

another forward move. ICEMANCOMETH (Ire) (Marju) put in a big effort to win an

allowance/optional claiming event last out and will make his first start since being

claimed by John Sadler. The bay gelding was pressured throughout in his last and

never wavered despite establishing a quick tempo against considerably softer.

We'll let the gelding beat us on the quick turnaround.

YOUNG JOE (Roar) has sharp early speed, in a field full of it, and has never

been on the grass prior to this. GHETTO (GB) (Auction House) was a close fourth

in the Oak Tree Derby (G2) at big odds, but that hasn't been the strongest race

to date and we'll look elsewhere. PISTOL PETE AFLEET (Northern Afleet) is

winless in four turf tries and was beaten for a $50,000 tag two prior. IL GIRASOLE (Lemon Drop Kid) is in a tough spot with the widest post in here

for Todd Pletcher, and the twice-raced bay gives up a ton of seasoning to much

of this cast. While it's not inconceivable that the Kentucky-bred runs a big one

beneath Victor Espinoza, he looks like a bit of a reach at anything less than

20-1.