Potrero Grande BC

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Trainer Bill Spawr’s decision to withdraw Grade 1 winner Bordonaro (Memo
[Chi]) from Saturday’s $200,000 Potrero Grande Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) at Santa
Anita in favor of next Friday’s Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park will leave
only five horses to line up in the 6 1/2-furlong test. One of those five, SMOKEY
STOVER (Put It Back), will be going for his fourth straight win, and we can’t
pick against the even-money morning-line favorite.

The dark bay gelding has yet to finish worse than second in his 10-race
career, taking six of those starts by easy margins. Owned by Harry Aleo and
trained by Greg Gilchrist, the four-year-old was a 3 1/4-length victor of the
Sunshine Millions Sprint two back, earning a century-topping 114 BRIS Speed
rating in the process. Last out, Smokey Stover made his graded debut a clear
length score in the Bay Meadows Breeders’ Cup Sprint H. (G3). He has yet to win
from two tries at 6 1/2 furlongs, but against these rivals he should overcome
that issue. Smokey Stover worked a bullet five furlongs in :59 1/5 at Golden
Gate Fields last Saturday and appears ready and willing to continue his win
streak here. Aaron Gryder has the return call.

GREG’S GOLD (Lake George) captured the Bing Crosby H. (G1) in July of 2005,
then wasn’t seen in competition again until taking a Santa Anita allowance by 3
1/4 lengths on February 18 last out. The David Hofmans-trained six-year-old
showed no rustiness off the 18-month vacation, dueling for the lead before
kicking clear in that
six-furlong test and earning a 101 Speed rating. Though the gray gelding could
bounce a bit off that start, we still think he’ll show up to challenge for it
all. Richard Migliore picks up the mount while regular rider David Flores is in
New York for the Wood Memorial (G1).

SAILORS SUNSET (Petionville) was a surprise winner of the Vernon O. Underwood
S. (G3) at 13-1 in December and could add some value to what is shaping up to be
very chalky exotics. The Marcelo Polanco charge tied his career-best 102 Speed
figure in the Underwood, then faded to sixth after leading in the early
part of the Malibu S. (G1) in his final sophomore start. The gray gelding was
second in the Phoenix Gold Cup H. in his 2007 debut last out and could be best of the
rest under Martin Pedroza.

GOTAGHOSTOFACHANCE (Silver Ghost) took a similar vacation to Greg’s Gold,
winning the Sport Page H. (G3) in 2005 before being shelved until mid-November
last year. He made his return a fifth in an allowance at Hollywood Park, and
will be reappearing here off the 143-day layoff. Gotaghostofachance is a nice
runner, but he doesn’t seem to be in the same class as Greg’s Gold and might
need a race. With this short of a field, though, he could still earn a place in
the top three.

MY GUY (Private Interview) has won his past two starts, both stakes at
Stampede Park in Canada. He hasn’t raced since May, however, and looks out of his class against these.