Undefeated Ali steps up in the G2 San Valenzuala

$200,000 Purse – One Mile & One Sixteenth for Four Year Olds & Older

The winter winds are howling in LA.  In fact, at time of writing, there is a Wind Advisory in effect for the LA area.  Though with a forecasted high of 67 degrees for tomorrow’s San Valenzuala Breeders Bowl Stakes, there certainly would be a lot of Americans who would trade their local January weather.

Saturday’s running marks the eighth for the San Valenzuala, making the grade two event one of the longest running  in the game.  Four years ago it played host to one of the greatest races of our time when racing giants Western Groom and Buda With The Slew went head to head.  The race effectively turned into a match race with those two running off by 20 lengths.  In the end Buda With The Slew caught his foe in the stretch and in doing so posted a world record time of 1:40 over the sloppy track.

This year’s edition is dominated by 11 four-year olds looking to find their place among older handicappers.  The three capable five year-old horses will be reluctant to accommodate the newcomers.  There are also two fillies in the field though they are likely to have some difficulty prevailing among this group of boys.

High Raiser, bred and raced by Wiz4, is coming into this race off a respectable third place in the G3 Gravestone Cap in Dubai.  He made the long journey along with High Otto and hopefully they have had time to acclimatize.  High Raiser seems to have his effort when he is allowed to get free and clear in the early going.  Post 2 should help but there will likely be others interested in the lead.

Fan Again, by Lear Fan out of the GoWand3 stable, is coming off of a fantastic finish and a near miss in a lesser event in DC.  If the front runners get distracted, this one could may surprise them at the line.

Sensationalize, the well bred A.P. Indy colt from the Temp1 barn, comes into the race as the highest ranked in this group at 57^th.  He was graded placed four times in 2005 with a best effort second in the G1 Florida Derby.  He has inconsistent of late, last showing his potential in a restricted allowance back in October.  Perennial top performer Fred Gossett is in the irons Saturday.

Firmfly’s Sixer, from the Piefly farm, has been on a roll of late with two sharp wins at this distance.  Yet to compete at the stakes level, this son of Saratoga Six has his work cut out for him.

Big Biz, bred and run by Punisher, has been off form for the last couple.  It would take a return to form of early December for this five year-old son of Spectacular Bid to compete here.

Sissonhill, has put together a remarkable record in his short career, 11 for 13 in the money.  This sharp son of Danzig, out of AnzStable, has been there or close in his last six and should be able to compete at this jump of class.

With a short and sweet name and a career to match, Ali from the Soho Stable is undefeated, having put together two impressive wins in two months.  He is yet to try stakes company but who knows how good this son of Sadler’s Wells will turn out to be.

Stereotypical Cat, a son of Tale of the Cat, is testing the graded stakes level again and seems capable enough.  This colt from The League Stables comes into this race with the best Beyer of the bunch.  He was victorious in Grade 3 company last summer.

Zarcillo, a son of Cryptoclearance,  has had a couple of sharp stakes wins recently though has disappointed in his two attempts to make the jump to graded company.  Bred and raced by Andros, look for this closer at the top of the stretch if he isn’t outrun early.

High Otto, the other Dubai ship in, had a fine effort finishing second in the G3 Gravestone Cap last out.  The veteran from the Venezolano stable has shown he can run at this distance and with this calibre of competition.  He should be close.

In the Army Now, was picked out of the claiming ranks earlier last year by Super9 and has been steadily improving since.  If this son of Polish Navy can continue the trend he can compete here despite post 14.

My Picks:  Sissionhill.. times right for this consistent sort.. Ali ..  High Otto