They say good things come in small packages and the Grade 2 $250,000 Californian, which will be renewed this weekend at Hollywood Park, will have a select but quality-laden field seeking to join some legends who have won this fixture.

Previous heroes of the 9-furlong dirt battle read like a who's who of the sport. The late great Swaps took the 1955 running, arguably the quickest horse of all time, Dr. Fager, won this race in 1968 carrying 130 pounds while Cougar 11, Quack and Ancient Title dominated from 1971 through 1976.

Stir in our last Triple Crown winner Affirmed, the greatest horse to look through a bridle in Spectacular Bid, Sunday Silence and Lava Man, and fans can see this race has enticed the nuts.

Last season, Buzzards Bay got the ideal 3-hole trip and ran down Sun Boat and A.P. Xcellent.

This year fans are geared up to see a showdown between Heatseeker and the horse that beat him a head in the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap last time, Tiago.

Mervyn LeRoy hero Surf Cat will be attempting to ride the wave that allowed him to win half of his 18 starts while up and comers include Albertus Maximus and possibly Giant Gizmo.

First let's examine the upstarts. Giant Gizmo has never beaten this kind, his margin of victory last time in the slop was deceiving and he will be a betting price but must NOT be ignored. He has always shown a hint of talent, has won three of his last 4 starts, and he is coming to the race relatively fresh.

With a paucity of speed likely in the race, don't be shocked if Gizmo tries to steal this fray.

Albertus Maximus received the ideal prep race in his first start of the year; when closing in a sprint before he toyed with a N2X allowance field. The son of Albert the Great showed brilliance last year and has plenty of upside to him.

Millionaire Heat Seeker and Tiago have already displayed their hearts for all to see and they will be in the mix once again but neither has blinding speed and both are at the mercy of the pace of the race and how things set up early on.

Both figure to take serious cash and both appear vulnerable at short numbers.

So, who's the play.

Well, considering the fact that the search for value is always the key to locating the Holy Grail, the play just may be Giant Gizmo if his trainer Bobby Frankel decides to take a shot.

The blood is there for this guy to star. He's the first foal from double stakes winner and over $300K earner Golden Antigua and he has been pampered so far in his career.

The bad news is that he will have to ship to meet the starter. He ran in Texas just last week and this would be a quick turn around. He posted a best of 22 bullet drill there mid May but if he comes, he's the bet.

If not, look at the other runner that has been pointed for this Gold Cup prep from Day One. That's Albertus Maximus.

He just won at the distance and he did it for fun. A square price would be 9-2 on him and that would be a bargain.

Good luck.