Jim Murray Memorial

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Just five turf marathoners will line up in the $250,000 Jim Murray Memorial
H. (G2) at Hollywood Park on Saturday, and we like the classy CHAMPS ELYSEES
(GB) (Danehill) in here for Bobby Frankel. The five-year-old had excellent form
in Europe early in his career but often settled for minor awards, a trend that
he broke when taking the San Marcos S. (G2) in his second U.S. try in January.
Most recently, the bay finished a troubled third in the Santa Anita H. (G1) on
the Cushion oval, but he will return to his preferred surface in this one. Ramon
Dominguez ships in to pilot the certain favorite, who will likely be closing best
of all.

SUDAN (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) gives Frankel a strong one-two punch and is our
choice to complete the exacta. The Group 1 hero showed little in his U.S. debut
in February, but has been training well in advance of this and is a strong
bounce-back candidate. The chestnut five-year-old kept top European company over
the previous two campaigns and should not be ignored in here under Jose Valdivia
Jr.

BOULE D’OR (Ire) (Croco Rouge) has streaked to a pair of wins since being
claimed for $50,000 earlier in the year, including a smart score in the San Luis
Rey H. (G2) last out for Jeff Mullins. The dark bay seven-year-old placed in
five Group 3 events earlier in his career and has never been better in the
states, so he appears to be a logical top-three inclusion. Tyler Baze will break
from the rail and likely open a huge early lead in here; the question is how far
can he take the field.

CHURCH SERVICE (Pulpit) has run two big ones following a $50,000 claim by Mike Mitchell, with a nose second in the Tokyo City H. (G3) most recently. The
gelded bay has little early speed and might not be the best closer in the race,
so this particular spot looks like a bad fit for the gelding. Victor Espinoza
will be aboard the Kentucky-bred.

We feel strongly that multiple Grade 2 victor ON THE ACORN (GB) (Inchinor
[GB]), the defending champ, is not the same horse as he was in 2007, and we’ll
let him beat us on this occasion. The dark bay has been less than stellar in
three tries this campaign and drew widest of all in here.