Native Diver

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Ten runners are set for Saturday’s $100,000 Native Diver H. (G3), which
honors one of California’s most popular Thoroughbreds. The legendary speedster
equaled the world record at seven furlongs and captured three straight Hollywood
Gold Cups at 1 1/4 miles during the mid-1960s. Nobody of his quality will line
up for Saturday’s event, but the nine-furlong race marks the second U.S. attempt
for TROTAMONDO (Chi) (Hussonet). The Chilean Horse of the Year and Triple Crown
winner should only improve with that race under his belt.

Trotamondo appears to be training forwardly since his last outing, which
proved to be a disaster at the start when the chestnut lost contact with the
rest of his rivals early, dropping 18 lengths off the pace after the opening
half-mile of the 8 1/2-furlong allowance. He rallied well from that spot with
jockey Garrett Gomez, closing furiously through the stretch to be beaten only 1
1/2 lengths in second, and earned a whopping 111 BRIS Late Pace rating.
Trotamondo figures to relish the added ground on Saturday and will have plenty
of pace to set up his rally. The Chilean sensation is poised to be a top
handicap runner in California next year for trainer Laura De Seroux, and we’ll
see whether he can take the first step toward realizing that potential with a
victory here.

BULLY HAYES (Sultry Song) will be making his stakes debut for trainer Bruce
Headley. The lightly raced five-year-old didn’t make his first career start
until May, finishing third, and proceeded to win three of his next four
attempts. Following a hard-fought victory two starts back, he regressed slightly
last time but still managed a respectable third. Bully Hayes is a threat to show
further improvement while stretching out in distance on Saturday, and the
improving gelding owns solid BRIS Speed ratings. We like his chances for a top
three finish at nice odds.

MCCANN’S MOJAVE (Memo [Chi]) enters the Native Diver in top form, winning the
California Cup Classic H. last out in his first start at nine furlongs, and we
wouldn’t be surprised to see him continue to perform well in two-turn routes.
Even though he won last time in wire-to-wire fashion, the five-year-old bay can
sit just off the early battle before offering his best run, and the Paddy
Gallagher charge has displayed an affinity for Hollywood (2-1-1-0). We can’t
overlook his Speed numbers and consider McCann’s Mojave to be a very dangerous
candidate for it all.

PREACHINATTHEBAR (Silver Charm) is four for six at Hollywood and returned
from a freshening in good form, defeating Trotamondo and earning a 99 Speed
rating for his allowance score. The gray colt has been dogged by physical issues
in the past, but he’s been working fast in the mornings since his last race, and
the Grade 2-winning four-year-old could keep things going in his return to
stakes competition. The Bob Baffert trainee drew a bad post (9) but must still
be respected.

SPELLBINDER (Tale of the Cat) exits a game front-running win over optional
allowance/claiming rivals, but figures to face even more pressure in this spot
while stepping up in class. He likes Hollywood but has never been the distance.
COURTLY JAZZ (Dixieland Band) switches from turf to dirt and may continue to
develop into a good stakes performer for trainer Gary Mandella, but we can’t
recommend his chances based on recent efforts.

KEEP ON PUNCHING (Silver Deputy) doesn’t enter off an encouraging performance
and has proven most effective when racing on or close to the pace. He’ll need to
rate to challenge in this spot. SAINT BUDDY (Saint Ballado) must overcome the
far outside post and is probably better at shorter distances. His last three
stakes efforts were terrible, and we’ll just watch to see how he fares this time.
NO GIVEAWAY (He’s Tops) was an upset winner of the Longacres Mile H. (G3), but
the Emerald Downs veteran looks overmatched here. CORONADO’S PRIDE (Coronado’s
Quest) is very quick but probably doesn’t want any part of this company.