Denon (Chris McCarron, 119)
Bonapartiste (Mirco Demuro, 114)
Nazirali (Brice Blanc, 111)
Ringaskiddy (Eddie Delahoussaye, 112)
Hataab (Gary Stevens, 115)
Continental Red (Patrick Valenzuela, 116)
Apache Wings (Kent Desormeaux, 109)
Seven turf runners will get a chance to stretch their legs in the 1 1/2 mile $200,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap (gr. IIT) Saturday at Santa Anita. Not surprisingly, trainer Bobby Frankel has the highweight and likely favorite, Denon.Denon, a son of Pleasant Colony, made his North American debut last November with a one-length score in the grade I Hollywood Derby. He has won three of seven lifetime starts, the remainder coming in France. The one knock on Denon is he's never been longer than 10 furlongs.The hard-hitting veteran Bonapartiste, now eight, will also try the Obispo. Although his last victory came in the 1999 Fastness Handicap, he regularly hits the board in graded stakes. Still, he has rolled a pair of sevens in his last two races, and has yet to win in 10 tries at this distance.Continental Red ran huge last month in the San Marcos (gr. IIT), losing to Irish Prize by a nose. He's hit the board three times in four tries at 12 furlongs, and looms a threat here from just off the pace.Ringaskiddy, Nazirali, Hataab, and Apache Wings all look to step up in class from optional claiming or allowance appearances.The field, in post position order with jockeys and weights for the San Luis Obispo:
Bonapartiste (Mirco Demuro, 114)
Nazirali (Brice Blanc, 111)
Ringaskiddy (Eddie Delahoussaye, 112)
Hataab (Gary Stevens, 115)
Continental Red (Patrick Valenzuela, 116)
Apache Wings (Kent Desormeaux, 109)
Bonapartiste (Mirco Demuro, 114)
Nazirali (Brice Blanc, 111)
Ringaskiddy (Eddie Delahoussaye, 112)
Hataab (Gary Stevens, 115)
Continental Red (Patrick Valenzuela, 116)
Apache Wings (Kent Desormeaux, 109)
