Pat O’Brien BC

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of nine will go forward Sunday for the $300,000 Pat O’Brien Breeders’
Cup H. (G2) at Del Mar. UNFURL THE FLAG (Bertrando) comes off a pair of
victories, his last being the Triple Bend H. (G1) at the O’Brien distance of seven
furlongs. However, to get a little more value, we will go with BEAU SOLEIL
(General Meeting).

Making his first start for conditioner Ted West, the five-year-old exits a
three-length victory last out against optional claimers as a prep for this one.
Prior to that one, he had not started since annexing the Tiznow S. in April of
2004. The chestnut has been working forwardly for West, drilling five furlongs
in a bullet :57 2/5 on Tuesday over Del Mar’s main track. Beau Soleil seems to
have an affinity for Del Mar with two wins and a second in three starts at the
Southern California track. Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desourmeaux will have the
call.

Unfurl the Flag has posted triple-digit BRIS Speed figures in his last two and
doesn’t appear to have any competition for front-running honors except
Beau Soleil, who is also capable of wiring the race. Trainer David Bernstein
will be looking for his first win at the oceanside track in four attempts with
Unfurl the Flag, and jockey Corey Nakatani has thrived at Del Mar, winning six and
recording four seconds over the past week.

Watch for BEAR IN THE WOODS (Formal Gold) to come running late, especially if
a speed duel develops between our top two picks. The Craig Dollase trainee
earned BRIS Late Pace ratings of 108 and 104 for a dead-heat second-place finish with MCCANN’S MOJAVE (Memo [Chi])
in the Triple Bend and a fourth in the San
Diego H. (G2), respectively, and could improve while returning to a sprint in
this one.

IMPERIALISM (Langfuhr) will be making his first start in five months and his
first outing under a mile since capturing the seven-furlong San Vicente S. (G2)
in February of 2004. However, his BRIS E2 pace ratings have been impressive of
late, earning a 110 two back when just losing the Strub S. (G2) to Rock Hard Ten
(Kris S.) by a nose. He could improve at the shorter distance and should not be
ruled out for the exotics.

TASTE OF PARADISE (Conquistador Cielo) exits a third in the Bing Crosby H.
(G1) over the same track. He has been training well for Gary Mandella
and could get up to grab part under jockey Martin Pedroza. McCann’s Mojave has earned consecutive century-topping speed figures since
transferring to the shedrow of Patrick Gallagher. The bay five-year-old scored a
1 1/2-length victory over Congrats (A.P. Indy) in the Ack Ack H. and could
do well on Sunday.

HASTY KRIS (Kissin Kris) has suffered some troubled starts recently,
resulting in less-than-spectacular finishes, but the eight-year-old gelding
could hit the bottom of the gimmicks given a clear trip. PT’S GREY EAGLE
(Pleasant Tap), paired with Bear in the Woods for Dollase, hasn’t seen the
winner’s circle since annexing the Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup H. (G1) last
year. He finished fourth in the Bing Crosby, but was last in the outing prior to
that one, the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). We will just watch for now.
GOTAGHOSTOFACHANCE (Silver Ghost) has not raced in more than 10 months and we
will give him one before competing at this level.