Compari's perfect year, with wins in three stakes, has transformed the 4-year-old colt from a statebred stakes winner to a potential star turf miler. His gritty win in the Grade 2 Arcadia Handicap at Santa Anita showed he can compete against open company. A win in Monday's $250,000 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park would prove he can beat some of the nation's best. "This could take him to another level," trainer Marty Jones said. A winner of six consecutive starts over the last 14 months for his owner-breeders John Harris, John Nicoletti, and Don Valpredo, Compari has drawn the outside post in a field of 10 and is likely to be favored. The Shoemaker Mile is the feature race on a strong 10-race program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. Earlier in the day, there are two stakes -- the $60,000 Willard Proctor Memorial Stakes for 2-year-olds and the $150,000 Honeymoon Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on turf. The Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile will be Compari's first start since the Arcadia, though the layoff was not by design. Compari was the morning-line favorite for the $100,000 Inglewood Handicap on April 25, but was withdrawn because of concern over a foot. The issue was not a long-term problem, allowing Compari to resume training within days. http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=5231451
