AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
|
ARCADIA H. (G2), 4TH-SA, $150,000, 4YO/UP, 1MT, 1:34 P.M. PDT, 4-3 |
|
| 1 |
BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB), 4, c, by Royal Applause (GB)Subya, by Night Shift O-Michael House; B-Myriad Communications & New England Stud (GB) |
| 2 |
COMPARI, 4, G, by Redattore (Brz)Southern Charm, by Dixieland Band O-Nicoletti Harris Farms Inc. & Valpredo; B-Harris Farms Inc., Donald Valpredo & John Nicoletti (Ca) |
| 3 |
BLUE CHAGALL (FR), 5, G, by Testa RossaEloisey, by Pitskelly O-Prestonwood Racing LLC; B-Antoinette Tamagni-Bodmer (Fr) |
| 4 |
FLUKE (BRZ), 5, h, by Wild EventUff-Uff, by De Quest O-Patricia Bozano; B-Haras Doce Vale (Brz) |
| 5 |
GOLDEN BALLS (IRE), 6, h, by Danehill DancerColourful Cast (Ire), by Nashwan O-Fontana Racing LLC or Gould Family Trust; B-Mrs. Noelle Walsh (Ire) |
| 6 |
SWIFT WINDS, 7, G, by King of the HuntChatter Box, by Time for a Change O-Garcia & Gutierrez; B-Jack Burk (Ca) |
| 7 |
AITCHO, 5, h, by Stormy AtlanticFew Choice Words, by Valid Appeal O-Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Moss; B-Hargus & Sandra Sexton, Mark Mullen (Ky) |
A solid cast has been assembled to contest the $150,000 Arcadia H. (G2) over
the Santa Anita turf on Saturday, and we’re hoping to cash in on a longshot
selection.
GOLDEN BALLS (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) made a splash when first arriving in the
Golden State, impressively taking the La Puente S. and finishing second at
even-money in the Cinema H. (G3). Third in this race in 2008 off a nine-month
layoff, the talented chestnut hasn’t been in an event since September 2008, but
we love the aggressiveness of this placement and the potential trip he could get
under Brice Blanc.
The peaking FLUKE (Brz) (Wild Event) really put it all together late last
summer and is among the best in his division for trainer Humberto Ascanio. A winner
of the Citation H. (G1) two back, the five-year-old has now registered
back-to-back big showings at the Grade 1 level, having just missed in the Frank
E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1), and is the one to beat in this
event. Joe Talamo will climb back aboard.
The ever-consistent BATTLE OF HASTINGS (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) has been
high class and steady since arriving in the United States. The Jeff Mullins trainee will
be flying late under Tyler Baze and must be considered a huge win candidate.
It’s hard to knock COMPARI (Redattore [Brz]), who has rolled through every
level asked of him to this point for trainer Marty Jones. The California-bred is
very fast and has not been fiercely tested late during his streak, which
includes a perfect mark from three races on the local lawn. He’ll be the one to
catch.
Group 3 victor BLUE CHAGALL (Fr) (Testa Rossa) was a good fourth in
the Kilroe Mile last out but is far from a win machine, so we’ll
keep him for exotics use.
SWIFT WINDS (King of the Hunt) and AITCHO (Stormy Atlantic) look overmatched.