By Christie DeBernardis
Michael Lund Petersen's Mor Spirit (Eskendereya) looks to score his third straight win in a loaded renewal of Santa Anita's GII San Felipe S. Saturday. Trained by Bob Baffert, who won this test last year with “TDN Rising Star” Dortmund (Big Brown), the dark bay followed a runner-up effort in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., which has proven to be a key race, over a sloppy track at Churchill Nov. 28 with a victory in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 19. Starting his sophomore season the same way he closed his juvenile one, Mor Spirit captured the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. last time Feb. 6 and displays two solid workouts since being eased during a work Feb. 23, most recently covering six panels in 1:12.20 in Arcadia Mar. 5.
“TDN Rising Star” Danzing Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) takes a step up the class ladder here for trainer Cliff Sise. Eighth to the reopposing Uncle Lino (Uncle Mo) after a troubled trip in his Del Mar unveiling Nov. 29, the Halo Farms and Jim and Diane Bashor runner rebounded with a decisive graduation in Arcadia Dec. 26. The dark bay was ultra-impressive last time when romping by 5 3/4 lengths in a one-mile allowance over this strip Feb. 4.
The Desormeaux brothers team up here with MGSW Exaggerator (Curlin), who is owned by Big Chief Racing, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Rocker O Ranch LLC, et. al. Winner of last term's GII Saratoga Special S., the dark bay finished fourth to champion Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile S. Oct. 31 and returned to take the GIII Delta Downs Jackpot S. Nov. 21. He kicked off this term with a runner-up effort to the undeafeated Eclipse winner after pressing the pace in a speedy renewal of the seven-panel GII San Vicente S. here Feb. 15.
Irvin Racing Stable's undefeated Smokey Image (Southern Image) has many making comparisons to 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) as he faces open company for the first time in this test. The Cal-bred won his first five starts as a juvenile, four of which were listed stakes, by a combined 18 1/2 lengths for previous trainer Greg James. Transferred to Carla Gaines for his sophomore season, the chestnut went gate-to-wire to register an 8 1/2-length demolition of the California Cup Derby in his two-turn debut over this track and trip Jan. 30. He has been working lights out in Arcadia since his last start, including a best-of-31 six panels in 1:12.20 Feb. 27 and a five-furlong breeze in :59.60 (3/134) last time Mar. 5.
Completing the San Felipe line up is Hans Poetsch's I Will Score (Roman Ruler), who enters off a third-place finish in the Robert Lewis. The Jerry Hollendorfer pupil opened his account with a 6 1/2-length success at Los Alamitos Sept. 11 and followed suit with a win in a local optional claimer Jan. 3. The dark bay will likely be battling Smokey Image and Danzing Candy on the front end early on.
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