1) Rye 32-1
2) Itsinthepost 2-1
3) Play Hard to Get 32-1
4) Saltini 32-1
5) Oscar Dominguez 49-1
6) Aquaphobia 32-1
7) Responsibleforlove 49-1
8) Colonist 6-1
9) Hayabusa One 3-1

I've been waiting for COLONIST (8) to get the serious stretch in distance for quite some time, and today is finally the day that it happens. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, this son of Pioneerof the Nile has always hinted at ability, but he's never been able to break through with a major performance. Colonist doesn't possess the greatest turn-of-foot, so I believe it's imperative that Flavien Prat get him into the run early and, in an ideal world, sit a length or two off the likely pacesetter, PLAY HARD TO GET (3).

ITSINTHEPOST (2) and HAYABUSA ONE (9) are clearly the horses to beat in the San Luis Rey; of the two, I prefer Itsinthepost. Itsinthepost has been one of my favorites for some time, and I think he moved a bit too soon in the San Marcos on February 3.

Ultimately he may not be as talented as Itsinthepost or Hayabusa One - if that ends up being the case, that's okay; at least Colonist is getting the chance to do what I think he's wanted to do all along...go really long on turf. He's 8-1 with 14 MTP.