Trainer Ron McAnally has a great shot to win his first San Rafael with Early Flyer. A chestnut colt by Gilded Time, Early Flyer has won two of four starts for earnings of $143,700, including a rousing win over Lasersport and D'wildcat in the San Vicente Stakes Feb. 3. McAnally said Early Flyer will start Saturday come hell or high water. "It's really the only place I can run him," said McAnally. "He'll go one way or the other. We won't know if he'll like the mud until we try it."
--Probable for Saturday's grade II, $200,000 San Rafael Stakes, with jockeys: Palmeiro, Kent Desormeaux; Swordfish, David Flores; Victory Roar, Gary Stevens; Crafty C.T., Eddie Delahoussaye; Early Flyer, Chris McCarron; Media Mogul, Alex Solis and Wild And Wise, Victor Espinoza.