San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Las Vegas, NV - Santa Anita in Arcadia, California will be the scene of the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes this Saturday, February 23. Horses four years old and upward will be after their share of the $200,000 purse when they dash seven furlongs on Santa Anita's dirt track.
The San Carlos has attracted a very strong field of eight older horses for race 8 on Santa Anita's Saturday card. Post time is 4:07 PM. Let's take a brief glance into the past performances of all eight combatants entered in this Grade 2 stakes.
2013 San Carlos Stakes Race Favorites
The Lumber Guy - one of the leading sprinters in the nation Lumber Guy has eight career starts with four wins - the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park September 29, the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes on April 21, the Miracle Wood Stakes on February 25 and a Maiden Special Weight race in January 2012. His only losses include a fifth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial on April 7, a disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Peter Pan on May 12 ,a close second to Trinniberg in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and last time out in his worst career performance ever - a seventh in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes as favorite here December 26. He was up and down last year but may be due in the San Carlos if he is over the foot injury that has plagued him recently.
Sahara Sky - Jerry Hollendorfer trained Sahara Sky raced in graded stakes company for the first time last time out having won twice, finished second twice and recorded a third place finish in five Allowance races in 2012. He had been out of action since June 22 when he was third in an Allowance at Hollywood Park before his most recent start - an impressive and unexpected win in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes on this track January 19 at 21-1 odds. He is on the radar now and should contend in the San Carlos.
San Carlos Stakes 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Comma to the Top - Grade 1 winner and Peter Miller trained gelding has won three of his last six starts and had four wins and a third in eight starts in 2012. The wins include an Allowance score at Golden Gate on June 9, the minor Pirate's Bounty Stakes at Del Mar September 5, the Big Bear Handicap at Santa Anita October 21 in wire-to-wire fashion and the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes here December 29 again in gate-to-wire style. He finished fourth in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby and fourth in the Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes four back. He had a fourth in the Grade 3 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes three back and predictably had a fourth last time out in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes here January 19. In his last seven starts Comma to the Top has alternated wins and fourth place finishes - there is a chance he dictates the pace an wins this week after a fourth last time out!
Midnight Transfer - Carla Gaines trained colt is coming off a win in his only start this year - an Allowance Optional Claiming here January 12 after seven months away with a very good Beyer Speed figure of 103. Before that was a pair of graded stakes starts to end 2012 - a seventh in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April and a third in the Grade 2 San Felipe here in March. He won the minor San Pedro Stakes here last January to start his 2012 campaign after a maiden score in December 2011.
San Carlos Stakes betting at Santa Anita with OffTrackBetting.com
Drill - Bob Baffert trained colt Drill first burst onto the scene by winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in September 2011. It wasn`t until five months later that Drill reemerged with an impressive win against American Act in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at this same distance last February 19 on this very track. Since the San Vicente win he has been OK- a second in the Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn in April and a win in the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera at Hollywood Park way back in May was followed by a nearly seven month layoff. Since his return Drill had a fourth in the Grade 1 Malibu December 26 and a disappointing sixth last time out in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes here January 19. He has been terrific at seven furlongs in the past and will be looking to continue that streak Saturday.
Capital Account - finished a decent third in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby behind Amazombie and The Factor in his stakes debut for trainer Bob Baffert and went on to a most impressive win in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien and a second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship in October. He was a disappointing twelfth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at 7-1 odds three back but bounced back with a respectable third in the Grade 3 Vernon O. Underwood at Hollywood Park December 2. Last time out was a fourth as favorite in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes here December 29.
Justin Phillip - Justin Phillip recorded a very impressive second in the Grade 2 True North behind Caixa Electronica June 8 at Belmont Park, a third in the Mr. Prospector Stakes and another very good second behind long shot Poseidon's Warrior in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga August 5. His three starts since were less impressive however - a sixth in the Grade 1 Vosburgh September 29 was followed by a fifth in the Breeders` Cup Sprint at 30-1 odds. Last time out was a bit of a resurrection - a third in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes on this track January 19.
Canonize - Ron Ellis trained gelding is coming off a fifth in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita January 19 after nearly nine months away. Prior to his layoff, Canonize ran second in the Grade 3 Texas Mile and won the minor Santana Mile three back in March on this track. Canonize has five wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in 15 career starts.
