Distinctiv Passion Takes on Five Accomplished Rivals in $200,000 Palos Verdes

Distinctiv Passion tops the field as the morning line favorite at odds of 2-1 for trainer Jeff Bonde. A five-year-old son of With Distinction, he has won six of his thirteen starts, three of which have come at Santa Anita. He will be making his first start of the year and concluded his 2014 season with back to back victories including a front-running score in the Midnight Lute (G3). Mike Smith will be aboard and they will break from the rail.

Secret Circle trying to return to winning form

Secret Circle, second in the 2014 Palos Verdes (G2) by a neck, has been tabbed as the second choice at 5-2 on the morning line. A six-year-old son of Eddington, he is trying to earn his first win since the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and was on the board in four of his five starts last year. He has been training forwardly for his seasonal debut and has had a recent bullet workout. He will get blinkers back on and have regular rider Martin Garcia aboard from post four.

Wild Dude back to the races off of layoff

Also in the field at morning line odds of 4-1 is Wild Dude, the defending Palos Verdes (G2) champion. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the five-year-old son of Wildcat Heir has won four of his ten starts and is returning to the races off of just over a nine-month layoff. He has had a recent bullet workout in preparation for his comeback effort and will break from post position five under regular rider Rafael Bejarano.