Bienamado Highweighted for San Juan Capistrano

The focus this weekend may primarily be on 3-year-olds, with the Wood Memorial in New York, Blue Grass Stakes in Kentucky, and Arkansas Derby all on tap, but other horses should not be forgotten. In California, Bienamado heads the lineup in Santa Anita's grade I San Juan Capistrano.

Trainer Paco Gonzalez is keeping an eye on the weather because Bienamado has been unplaced in two North American starts on on good or yielding turf. He has won all four of his Southern California starts on firm turf.

The San Juan is at 1 3/4 miles on grass Saturday.

Bienamado will carry highweight of 122 pounds and jockey Chris McCarron. Other probables are Persianiux, Subtle Power, Craigsteel, Mister Kick, Indigo Myth, Blueprint, Guillamou City, and Tanaasa.

Bienamado has made just two starts this year. He won the San Marcos Handicap in January, then finished ninth on the dirt in the Santa Anita Handicap won by Tiznow in March.

Among other West Coast highlights:
- Captain Steve had his first work since returning from Dubai where he won the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). He worked four furlongs for trainer Bob Baffert in :48.60.
- Spain will be given some time off after finishing fourth in the Apple Blossom Stakes (gr. I) at Oaklawn. Richard Mulhall, racing manager for Prince Ahmed Salman's The Thoroughbred Corp. said she would return "for the last part of the year."
- Jockey Chris McCarron is five wins away becoming the seventh rider in history to win 7,000 races.