Thunder Road

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

An evenly matched group of 10 will contest Saturday's $100,000 Thunder Road

H. (G3) on the Santa Anita lawn. We could go any number of ways in here, so we're

demanding a little value with our selection.

We've always liked GLOBAL HUNTER (Arg) (Jade Hunter) and we'll give the

six-year-old a stab against this group. The A.C. Avila trainee has faced top

company ever since coming to the United States last spring and he may have

finally found his niche on the grass, posting a trio of solid tries in

succession on the weeds. He didn't beat much in the Lure S. last out, but his

close finishes in the Oak Tree Mile (G2) and Del Mar Mile H. (G2) preceding that signal that he

can run effectively with these. Jose Valdivia Jr. will be back in the irons.

MONTEREY JAZZ (Thunderello) will hope to bounce back in here for Craig

Dollase, and we feel that the five-year-old will put forth a strong showing in

this race. A daylight winner of the Strub S. (G2) last year, the speed merchant

did not respond to rating tactics in a recent allowance/optional claiming tilt but will likely

revert to his old catch-me-if-you-can ways under David Flores. His best could be

good enough.

The class of the race is Canadian Grade 1 victor BECRUX (Ity) (Glen Jordan), who is in

good form since transferring to the barn of John Sadler and is also

cross-entered to Sunday's San Antonio H. (G2). The gelded

seven-year-old has eight wins from 17 starts at this one-mile distance and was a

closing third in the Citation H. (G1) two prior, signaling that he has plenty of

run left in him. A rider switch to Joel Rosario could be the key in propelling

this one to the winner's circle.

MR NAPPER TANDY (GB) (Bahamian Bounty) is another contender in here and drew

the rail for Jack Carava, who has had a superb meeting to this point. The

chestnut five-year-old has finished in the money in six of his seven starts at

this distance and is a winner over this course, but his running style often gets

him in trouble as he needs a strong tempo to aid his late kick. We'll use him

under Rafael Bejarano in the gimmicks.

MATTO MONDO (Chi) (Sir Cat) was a stylish allowance/optional claiming winner over this oval

last out, defeating Mr Napper Tandy and Monterey Jazz, and has improved his BRIS Speed numbers in three straight for Richard

Mandella. We find this guy a hard read simply because his previous three

outings in the United States were nothing to write home about. We'll include the

five-year-old, whom Mike Smith stays on, in some of our spread tickets in case

he's really turned the corner.

FERNELEY (Ire) (Ishiguru), who is also cross-entered to the San Antonio, has outrun his odds in his last pair, against

better, and rates a big chance in here for Ben Cecil. We are a bit concerned

about his tendency to hang on the money as of late, and we're not fond of the

pattern of races he's contested in the early part of this season. Considering

his class, however, it would

be unwise to omit the five-year-old. Victor Espinoza retains the

mount.

YANKEE BRAVO (Yankee Gentleman) burst onto the scene in late December of 2007

with an eye-catching win in the Eddie Logan S. and followed that up with a

conquer in the California Derby. A strong third in the Louisiana Derby (G2), and a fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1),

might have been better than it looked at the time. The four-year-old was last

seen checking in 10th in the Preakness S. (G1) and has been primed for this engagement. The Paddy Gallagher

charge might need one to shake off the rust, but he is a threat with his best.

MONBA (Maria's Mon), the 2008 Blue Grass S. (G1) hero, will be making his

first start since showing little in the Kentucky Derby (G1) for Todd Pletcher.

We feel that the gray could have a nice future on the green and he's not in that

deep against this field, but the wide post and the lack of recent racing will

keep us from using the talented colt on top.

DILEMMA (Grand Slam), fourth in Matto Mondo's allowance/optional claiming

event, is a hard-trying chestnut who will need a career best to take home the

top prize on this day. We still consider the five-year-old a logical exotics

threat, however, with Garrett Gomez.

SHORE DO (Include) has flashed occasional brilliance on the lawn and it would

not be a total shock if he were in the mix late, but we have to draw the line

somewhere and will let this one beat us.