Rancho Bernardo Handicap

Fourth Race
1. Oskar Hval 2. Panettone 3. Aragorn Sword

OSKAR HVAL may be poised for an upset. The 6yo was unable to threaten $25K N2L foes here Aug. 3 but not only were those more expensive but that run was his first in over 2 months. Now he has that under his belt, the noted class drop and he showed he's sharp with a big bullet 5f move here Aug. 14 (1:00). PANETTONE added blinkers for his last 2 and showed a strong late gear, including rallying for 2nd after a troubled start in a spot just like this here Aug. 1. Pender saw fit to claim him and note that last fall and as recently as April his prior connections thought enough of him to try him in stakes. ARAGORN SWORD was rank, chased the pace, had to steady and gave way readily routing at this level Aug. 8. He's capable of much better as his prior 3 outings show and all 3 came at this level, 2 of them sprinting.

Fifth Race
1. Ambitoness 2. Collating Lady 3. In a Twinkling

AMBITONESS continues her fine form. She couldn't quite handle IN A TWINKLING on the main track here Aug. 9 but still ran well, and the move to turf may play to her favor as 4 of her 6 wins have come on the sod. She was claimed by Mullins (39% off a claim) who gets Bejarano to ride and as noted earlier, those 2 have done exceedingly well together. COLLATING LADY looked super blasting home to win going away on this main track July 27. That was also her first start in nearly 2 months. It's most encouraging to see Machowsky now move her to where he can't lose her via a claim, and the surface switch should be no problem as she's handled turf. IN A TWINKLING fizzled here July 25 but she then led all the the way to post an 18-1 upset (AMBITONESS was 3rd) on this main track Aug. 9. So, she may well have turned the corner, and her only other prior grass try was smart (ran 2nd). FOLK DANCER continues to fire bullets and handles turf, but all her work has been sprinting so she tries a longer game here.

Sixth Race
1. Winding Way 2. Sugarinthemorning 3. Rumor

WINDING WAY won her first 2 starts in dazzling fashion, including a laugher on this main track July 21. It's a huge step up, yes, but this gal looks like a real comer for Gaines so she may be up to the task. Also nice to see Bejarano stick with her in a race where he likely had options. SUGARINTHEMORNING is one tough customer and her good 2nd in the G2 A Gleam at BHP last month shows she's as sharp as ever. Two of her 5 wins have come here, including a sprint SW last year. RUMOR can be freaky-big when on her game. She's a SW over this track and while she hasn't run in over 3 months she's proven fresh. HOME SWEET ASPEN, winner of the G1 Santa Monica at SA this winter, returns after 4 months off after a pair of dull outings. If back to her best she's a danger and her career-top Beyer (94) came on this track last Sept. 5.

Seventh Race
1. Secret Memo 2. Quick Chick 3. Truly Marie

SECRET MEMO did everything right in her debut here Aug. 5. Trouble is, Pontchartrain was just a smidge (head) better. That was still a most encouraging first run, she's worked since and Miller is not only having a big meet but is strong 2nd time out (21%). One of her 2 sibs to race is winner Grandanna (6 wins, $113K). QUICK CHICK brings plenty of strong works into her debut (including 2 bullet this month) for Baffert, who of course is well known for having his 2yos cranked to come out smokin' at this meet. Her only sib is Omamaomama (3 wins, $47K). TRULY MARIE stalked and ran a solid 4th in her debut here July 29. Sadler adds blinkers (24%) for her 2nd start (19%) and she since posted a bullet 5f move here Aug. 13 (:59).

Eighth Race
1. Antares World 2. Sparkling Style 3. Halo Dolly

ANTARES WORLD may fall into a great trip. She has tactical speed and there are 2 or 3 others in here who sizzle early, meaning she can tuck in just behind, ready to pounce when they falter, giving her first run on the closers. She's got quality, too, as she makes her first start for Mullins after over 3 months off after finishing a close 2nd in the G3 Wilshire at BHP. SPARKLING STYLE tries turf, routing and open stakes all for the first time and while those are big hurdles she obviously has speed and ability. She's bred for grass and it's noteworthy Bejarano ends up here in a race where he likely had options. HALO DOLLY is one tough cookie who comes off a fine 3rd in the Osunitas here. Hey, you don't win 11 of 20 by accident and while speed is her primary asset she isn't a need-the-lead type. She is stuck way outside, however. UNUSUAL HOTTIE continues to fire bullets. She's won 2 straight and while she steps up in class she may be ready for this type of assignment, and her versatility could be key, too.

Ninth Race
1. Danger Lurking 2. Contributed 3. A. P. Corsair

DANGER LURKING broke slowly in his debut at BHP July 14 but ran on smartly for 3rd (just behind today's foe A. P. CORSAIR in 2nd). With that under his belt, plenty of works and a better start he can vault forward and get his diploma. CONTRIBUTED showed fine speed in his Aug. 1 debut before finishing 3rd. He can benefit from that outing. Remember, trainer Mora is O'Neill's main assistant and the O'Neill horses will be under his name while O'Neill rides out a suspension. A. P. CORSAIR was a fine 2nd at BHP July 14, beating the top pick, so he fits. You can draw a line through that Aug. 1 run here when he ran 9th as he was eliminated at the break. SWISS EMPEROR has had lots of chances (22) but has run well on occasion and comes out of a very strong heat (4 next-out winners).