No standout in San Fernando

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bob Baffert has three runners, Craig Dollase two. That's a full house, but in the poker game of Saturday's $200,000 , that's not necessarily a winning hand.

A wide-open field of 10 is entered in the Grade 2 San Fernando, the 1 1/16-mile second leg of the three-race Strub Series for 4-year-olds. None of the first four finishers from the first leg, the Malibu Stakes, is in the San Fernando, nor is Ten Most Wanted, who is awaiting the final leg, the Strub Stakes. In their stead are a group of horses trying to recapture past glory, such as Toccet, or up-and- comers perhaps on the verge of breaking through, such as Anziyan Royalty.

Anziyan Royalty, one of Dollase's representatives, comes off a powerful eight-length victory in a first-level allowance race at Hollywood Park in which he earned a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure. He has won all four of his starts on the main track, and has improved sharply in two starts since blinkers were added. Dollase is hoping to use the San Fernando as the first part of a one-two punch that will conclude with the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic two weeks later.

"Absolutely that's our plan," Dollase said Thursday morning. "He's a big, strong horse. He's really taken to the dirt. Adding the blinkers has made him more focused."

Dollase also sends out Touch the Wire, who also won a first-level allowance race at Hollywood Park in his last start.

Baffert counters with During, Senor Swinger, and Spensive. During was eased in the slop in the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in his last start, but prior to that won the Discovery and Jerome handicaps in New York.

"He's got to have things his own way," Baffert said. "He hated the mud. All the speed stopped that day. It was a gooey, sticky track."

Senor Swinger returns to the dirt for the first time since last year's Preakness Stakes. He is a two-time stakes winner on grass.

Spensive is making his first start since May. He has trained sharply for his comeback, but landed the far outside post.

Toccet won the Champagne Stakes and Hollywood Futurity at 2, but won just once in seven starts last year. He was 11th in the 12-horse Malibu.

The well-traveled Excessivepleasure, a three-time derby winner last year, figures to make the running from the rail for jockey Jon Court, who teamed with Excessivepleasure to capture the Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park in October.

>>> - Free past performances, A Closer Look and handicapper's analysis for the San Fernando Stakes.