Ancient Title

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eight sprinters, including four Grade 1 winners, will contest Saturday’s
$250,000 Ancient Title S. (G1) over the Hollywood Park Cushion Track, and we’ll
make a case for COST OF FREEDOM (Cee’s Tizzy). Winner of the 2008 Ancient Title
at Santa Anita, the seven-year-old gelding ran well in two starts earlier this
year at Hollywood, including a victory in the Los Angeles H. (G3), and he’s
posted two bullet works over the track in preparation, including a six-furlong
move in 1:11 4/5 last Saturday. The John Sadler trainee didn’t take to the lawn
when making his turf debut in the Green Flash S. last time and we won’t put much
stock in his fifth in the Bing Crosby S. (G1) two back; he runs his best races at
the two Los Angeles tracks. Cost of Freedom will be up close from the start with
jockey Alonso Quinonez, and we’ll look for him to prove best late.

SMILING TIGER (Hold That Tiger) brought outstanding form into the Pat O’
Brien S. (G1) last out, but didn’t offer his best run after breaking poorly. We
give the three-year-old a chance to rebound with another strong showing on
Saturday. A smart 1 1/2-length scorer when making his first start against elders
in the Bing Crosby, the Jeff Bonde-trained gelding showed his affinity for the
Cushion Track when posting an excellent win in the Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. (G3)
three back at Hollywood, leading throughout. He figures to break running here
with jockey Russell Baze, and we won’t be surprised to see him lead all the way.

E Z’S GENTLEMAN (Yankee Gentleman) is another one to consider for the win.
Trained by Bob Baffert, the five-year-old ridgling finished a close second to
Cost of Freedom in the Los Angeles and then captured the Triple Bend H. (G1) by 3
1/4 lengths over the Cushion Track, registering 106 and 104 BRIS Speed ratings
for those efforts. He lacked the same late kick but still managed to record a
respectable third in the Bing Crosby last time, and the stalker is eligible to
run better when returning to Hollywood. The bay should be in position to pounce
if the front runners falter.

SUPREME SUMMIT (Cactus Ridge) is a hard-knocking colt from the barn of Mike
Puype. With triple-digit BRIS Late Pace ratings in five of his last six starts,
the four-year-old is eligible to make a late impact here given the preponderance
of early speed in the field. The dark bay still has some class concerns, but
we’ll include him on the bottom of some exotics.

Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) victor DANCING IN SILKS (Black Minnaloushe) remains
eligible to rebound for his excellent conditioner, Carla Gaines, but we’ve been
disappointed with his three efforts this year. The five-year-old gelding
probably needed his last off a six-month hiatus and is two-for-four over the
Cushion Track, but we’re not convinced that he can rekindle his terrific form
from last fall.

GATO GO WIN (City Place) appears to be facing too much of a class hike off
his win in the Pirate’s Bounty S. at Del Mar. TRUEST LEGEND (Songandaprayer) and
NEW BAY (Cuvee) don’t look fast enough to make an impact.