Santa Margarita

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A competitive group of 11 fillies and mares will square off in Saturday’s
$300,000 Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1) and most of the early speed is
stuck on the far outside. GOOD STUDENT (Arg) (Louis Quatorze) received a much
better draw in post 4 and rates top billing.

An accomplished dirt horse in her native Argentina in 2003, Good Student made
her U.S. bow on the dirt last summer at Hollywood Park but raced exclusively on
the grass the rest of the season, recording a good fourth in the Yellow Ribbon
S. (G1) and a close third in the Las Palmas H. (G2). She turned in a strong
performance to capture her seasonal bow in the grassy Tuzla H. and then returned
to the dirt in the Santa Maria H. (G1) last out, gaining the lead in the stretch
drive before being caught on the wire by a nose at 15-1 odds. She earned a 103
BRIS Speed rating for that stellar effort, and we probably haven’t seen the best
of her yet. Many South American imports don’t hit their best stride right away
in the United States, and the classy Good Student appears to be on the improve
for conditioner Ron McAnally. She figures to receive a good trip on or near the
front end under Tyler Baze and can record her first North American graded
victory here.

PERSONAL LEGEND (Awesome Again) is an intriguing prospect at long odds. The
Bobby Frankel-trained mare finished a good second in the El Encino S. (G2) over
Santa Anita’s dirt last January but raced on the turf in her next six outings.
Her form turned around when returning to the main track last November, winning a
Grade 3 event and a listed stakes on the East Coast, and she returned to
California with a positive showing in the Santa Maria, closing late to be beaten
only three lengths in fourth. There’s more early speed to set up the
late-running five-year-old and the added ground should only help Personal
Legend’s chances at an upset.

MISS LOREN (Arg) (Numerous) looms as a serious candidate for it all. A
three-time stakes winner in the United States, the seven-year-old mare was
transferred to trainer Richard Mandella following her score in the Santa Maria
last out. The trainer switch must be viewed as a positive for the Grade 1
winner, and Miss Loren enters this event off two straight stakes wins at Santa
Anita. The dark bay owns excellent BRIS Late Pace figures, but she will be seeking
her first U.S. victory past 8 1/2 furlongs.

TARLOW (Stormin Fever) appears to be on the upswing for trainer John
Shirreffs, recording a sharp wire-to-wire victory last time in the La Canada S.
(G2),
and could be a serious presence throughout on the front end. She will have to
cut out a trip from the far outside, but the speedy filly remains a serious
threat for a top three placing.

A. P. ADVENTURE (A.P. Indy) has dropped her last two starts at odds-on and
figures to take a lot of money once again. However, she was extremely flat last
time in the five-horse La Canada and faces a much more difficult
challenge here. The Wally Dollase-trained four-year-old owns the back class to
be a serious factor at this level, but she’ll need to prove it first. A. P.
Adventure hasn’t won a race in nearly 13 months. SWEET LIPS (Kris S.) enters off
a couple of nice races, but she is stepping up to face better company and has
never earned a triple-digit Speed figure. We’ll watch to see how the
late-running four-year-old fares at this level.

Grade 2 winner HOUSE OF FORTUNE (Free House), who will race coupled with our
top choice, will need to turn her form around off a disappointing showing last
time in the Sunshine Millions Distaff. She does own a couple victories over the
track, but she hasn’t turned in an encouraging performance since last June.
DREAM OF SUMMER (Siberian Summer) owns speed and back class, but she drew a
tough outside post and faces a difficult task going nine furlongs.

URAIB (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) rallied late for a narrow win in the
off-the-turf Buena Vista H. (G3) and has run commendably in both dirt attempts
for trainer Sanford Shulman, but the grass specialist will be tested for class
here. SCROFA (Unusual Heat) is going well presently for trainer Paul Aguirre,
but she appears better suited to the grass. FESTIVAL (Jpn) (Assatis) didn’t beat
much when capturing the off-the-turf Dahlia H. (G3) last December and could find
this company too difficult.