San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes comes our way from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California this Saturday, January 12. It is the second leg of Santa Anita's Strub Series culminating in the $200,000 Strub Stakes February 2. Four year olds will be after the winner's share of the $150,000 purse when they go 1 1/16 miles on Santa Anita's main track.
A field of 10 four year olds - four from Bob Baffert's incredible team has been confirmed for the San Fernando Stakes. It is race 7 on Santa Anita's Saturday schedule with a post time of 3:36 PM. Let's take a brief glance into the credentials of all 10 combatants and what brought them to this Grade 2 event.
2013 San Fernando Stakes Race Favorites
Handsome Mike - has two wins in 12 career starts - a Maiden Special Weight score at Santa Anita in October and out of nowhere in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby three back. Last time out was a disappointing tenth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby to follow another poor result - a ninth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Handsome Mike placed in just two of his last nine starts and after an improbable Pennsylvania Derby win, he has not looked great. Trainer Doug O'Neill hopes a return to dirt and a cutback in distance will make Mike competitive again. He is the high weight and will wear blinkers Saturday.
Fed Biz - Bob Baffert trained colt has three wins in seven career starts including two this year with all of his wins coming at one mile - the El Cajon Stakes August 31 at Del Mar followed an Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track back in February. Last time out was a disappointing sixth in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes to follow an eighth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and an OK third in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby October 6. Fed Biz looks for his first graded stakes win Saturday but enters in average form.
San Fernando Stakes 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Battle Force - John Sherreffs pupil has looked good in five career starts placing in all. Last time out was a second in the Grade 2 Sir Beaufort here December 26 to follow a second in an Allowance after nearly one full year off. He had a very nice third in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park in November of last year to follow a win in a Maiden Special Weight and a second in a similar race in his career debut toward the end of 2011. He tries dirt for the first time Saturday but will have Garrett Gomez in the saddle for the San Fernando.
Mile High Magic - Bob Baffert gelding makes his graded stakes debut after a second and a fifth in his only two stakes appearances - both races coming in his last two. Mile High Magic has two wins, three seconds and a third place finish in seven career starts and has been favored in each race that he has entered in his career. He races for the first time without blinkers in the San Fernando.
Guilt Trip - has only five career starts for trainer Bob Baffert with a pair of fifths in his last two outings - the Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct November 17 and the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes last time out here December 26. Before that were two straight wins at Belmont Park - an Allowance Optional Claiming October 27 and a Maiden Special Weight score September 26. He will be looking for his first stakes win Saturday.
San Fernando Stakes betting at Santa Anita with OffTrackBetting.com
Sky Kingdom - Bob Baffert trained Sky Kingdom won an Allowance here a year ago and followed that with a fifth in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes way back in February. He has been out of action for nearly a year and returns having won twice in six career starts. He has apparently looked good in the lead up to the San Fernando however.
Fly Lexis Fly - is a two time Peruvian classic winner - two wins in a row coming into an American debut. In that debut he was fifth in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar on July 27 but he followed that up with a second in the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs September 8. His last two results have been just OK - a third in an Allowance last time out December 1 followed a fifth in the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup in October.
Tritap - Steve Asmussen colt is coming off an Allowance score at Churchill Downs in November after a sixth in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby in October. He has two wins and three second place finishes in seven career starts.
Tribal Jewel - Jerry Hollendorfer gelding makes his stakes debut Saturday after three wins and three third place finishes in seven career starts. He has won his last two starts on this track - both Allowance scores in the last three months and has a third in a similar race at Hollywood Park sandwiched in there.
Regulus - makes his stakes debut Saturday after six career starts produced two wins and a second place finish - the wins coming two and three back in Allowance races at Del Mar and on this track.
