Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park March 15
Posted on Thursday, March 13th, 2008
Santa Anita Park’s $200,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) has served as a proving ground for 10 Kentucky Derby winners, and Saturday’s 71st running of the 1 1/16 mile event could well be the defining race for several ambitious 3-year-olds.
Stakes winners Georgie Boy, Bob Black Jack and Gayego, who have excelled as sprinters, will be attempting two turns for the first time, as will well-fancied French import Shediak, who was among the leading juveniles in Europe last year. The Selkirk colt, bred by the Aga Khan, also will be racing over a synthetic surface for the first time.
Those four appear to be the most compelling entrants of nine named to contest the April 5 Santa Anita Derby prep in which 10 eventual winners of the Kentucky Derby finished either first or second.
Georgie Boy is a multiple graded stakes winner sprinting, having captured the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) by one-half length and Santa Anita’s San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) by 3 3/4 lengths in his last two starts, both at seven furlongs.
“I think he’ll settle well, and indications are that he wants to go long,” said Kathy Walsh, who trains the gelded California-bred son of Tribal Rule for owner-breeder George Schwary. “Garrett (Gomez, aboard in the Futurity victory) seems to think he can go long,” she added.
Rafael Bejarano, Santa Anita’s leading rider who was aboard in the San Vicente, has the return call for Walsh, a native of Sonoma, California, who has been training for some 38 years. With earnings of $376,807, Georgie Boy is the field’s richest entrant.
Bob Black Jack, another California-bred, is coming off victories in the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes by 6 1/4 lengths and in the Sunshine Millions Dash by 3 1/2 under regular rider David Flores. His winning time of 1:06.53 for six furlongs in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions race translated into a world record clocking.
James Kasparoff, who trains the Stormy Jack colt for Jeff Harmon and Tim Kasparoff, believes the $4,500 yearling purchase who has earned $268,925 will adapt to the added distance. “He was nice and relaxed and galloped out like a freight train,” Kasparoff commented following a recent five-furlong work at Hollywood Park.
Gayego, who won the San Pedro Stakes in January while speeding 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13 for his second win in three starts, is another without distance experience. According to Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Gayego’s talent is unquestioned.
“I really think a lot of him,” Smith said of the Gilded Time colt trained by Paulo Lobo for Cubanacan Stables. “I wouldn’t trade his talent with anybody’s. The only thing to worry about is, he’s never gone long, and you want to know if he can do it or not.”
Shediak, who finished third in a Group I stakes race at Longchamp in France in his last start at seven furlongs on turf in October, has joined the stable of Doug O’Neill for his U.S. debut. Julien Leparoux has been named to ride the Triple B Farms colt whose three races in Europe earned high marks in the overseas Racing Post Rankings. His highly successful sire, Selkirk, was a champion in France and twice in England.
The complete field for the San Felipe Stakes, with jockeys and weights in post position order:
- Gayego, Mike Smith, 115
- Southwest, Corey Nakatani, 115
- Bob Black Jack, David Flores, 117
- Georgie Boy, Rafael Bejarano, 117
- Indian Sun, Alex Solis, 115
- Go for Cover, Michael Baze, 115
- Chop House George, Joseph Talamo, 115
- Shediak, Julien Leparoux, 115
- High Stakes Silver, Martin Garcia, 115
Indian Sun is the most accomplished of the entrants with route experience. Idian Sun has been competitive in five route races, four of them graded, with his only win coming in a one-mile allowance event on turf. Conditioned by Dan Hendricks for Cecil Peacock, the son of Indian Charlie has banked $160,600 from two wins and three seconds in seven starts while handled by Alex Solis.
Winners of the Kentucky Derby who have won the San Felipe include Fusaichi Pegasus (2000), Sunday Silence (1989), Affirmed (1978) and Determine (1954). San Felipe runners-up who went on to victory in the Kentucky Derby include Giacomo (2005), Real Quiet (1998), Alysheba (1987), Gato del Sol (1982), Lucky Debonair (1965) and Tomy Lee (1959).
The San Felipe Stakes is scheduled as the ninth race on Santa Anita Park’s March 15 ten-race program. First post is at 12:30 p.m.
www.santaanita.com
"San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park March 15" was posted on Thursday, March 13th, 2008 at 6:29 pm and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Santa Anita Track, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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