San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita

Las Vegas, NV - Santa Anita Park in beautiful Arcadia, California will be the scene of the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes this Saturday, February 9. Horses four years old and upward will be featured as they go 1 1/4 miles on Santa Anita's turf track in search of the winner's share of the $150,000 purse.

A deep and competitive field of 14 will line up in the competitive San Marcos Stakes. It is race 9 on Santa Anita's Saturday card with a post time of 4:38 PM. Here is a look at the past performances of all 14 entries ahead of this Grade 2 stakes.

2013 San Marcos Stakes Race Favorites

Interaction - Former Argentinean Horse of the Year Interaction has yet to find the form that made him a star in his native land. He had a win in an Allowance Optional Claiming here on June 16 and a decent second to Acclamation in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes on July 21 but had a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap August 25. He had an OK third in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf at Santa Anita September 30 but followed that with an ugly seventh in the Grade 2 Citation Handicap here November 23. Last time out he almost broke through - a second in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes at Hollywood Park December 15.

Slim Shadey - had looked good before a fifth as favorite in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth on July 7 and another fifth in the Grade 1 Eddie Read. He won the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship three back on September 30 but followed that up with a tepid eighth in the Breeders' Cup Turf and an OK fourth in the Hollywood Turf Cup. Last time was a distant sixth as favorite in the Grade 2 San Gabriel here January 13. He had three straight second place finishes earlier in 2012 including the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham to Acclamation, in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and the Grade 1 San Luis Stakes on March 25. Slim Shadey is 6-3-1-0 at the San Marcos distance, and has an overall mark of 25-4-4-0, with earnings of $523,850. Slim Shadey was up and down last year but showed some serious form at times. To add to the intrigue, Gary Stevens will get the mount on Slim Shadey.

San Marcos Stakes 2013 | Remaining Field Entries

Richard's Kid - last year was an OK third in the Grade 1 Awesome Again behind Game on Dude after another third in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic right behind Game on Dude again. He had a win before that in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap on July 27 to follow another second to Game On Dude in the Hollywood Gold Cup and a win in the minor Prove It Stakes. Last time out was a fourth in the Grade 3 Native Dive December 1 to follow a fifth ahead of Game On Dude in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Richard's Kid isn't afraid of competition and will be happy not to see Game On Dude in the San Marcos - only his second career start on grass!

All Squared Away - Peter Miller pupil had a very impressive win in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on April 21 at Keeneland. Since then All Squared Away has been all over the map - a pair of fifths at the Marine Stakes May 12 and an Allowance Optional Claiming July 21, a disappointing seventh in the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes, an Allowance Optional Claiming score August 12 at Del Mar, a seventh in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby September 2, a terrible twelfth in the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby, a fourth in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby November 2 here, an eighth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby and finally a win last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track January 6. Not sure what to make of All Squared Away at this point!

Fire With Fire - made his graded stakes debut with a very good third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap after six straight Allowance races produced three seconds and a third place finish. He followed his Del Mar Handicap performance with a sixth in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship September 30, a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track November 10 and a fifth two back in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup. Last time out was a second here in an Allowance Optional Claiming to All Squared Away. Fire With Fire hasn't tasted victory in over a year - an Allowance at Saratoga.

Temple's Door - had an Allowance Optional Claiming score August 5 - his first win in 15 months but followed that up with a seventh in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf September 30 and a third in the minor Lure Stakes at Santa Anita October 28. Last time out was a nice second to Jeranimo in the Grade 2 San Gabriel on this track to follow a fifth in the Grade 2 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park November 23. Temple's Door has three wins, a second and three thirds in 10 career starts for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Golden Itiz - had a pair of sevenths in graded stakes races back in 2011 before a one year layoff. He returned November 10 to a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming and was fourth in an Allowance at Hollywood Park December 1. Last time out was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming here January 10. He did have a graded stakes score in 2010 - the Grade 3 Affirmed - so we know he can run with the best.

San Marcos Stakes betting at Santa Anita with OffTrackBetting.com

Dreamcatcher - John Sadler trained colt will race in stakes company for the first time Saturday after 10 starts yielded two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. He had an Allowance Optional Claiming score two back and was third in a similar race last time out to All Squared Away on this track. He has a 6-1-2-2 on turf mark and enters the San Marcos in pretty good form.

Juniper Pass - returned from a lengthy layoff in May to finish fourth in an Allowance on May 19 and followed it up with an OK fourth in the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap on June 9 behind the likes of Acclamation. It was just over a year ago that Juniper Pass was one to keep your eyes on - two straight wins in the Grade 2 San Luis Stakes and the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano Handicap. His last two starts have resulted in fourths in a pair of competitive races - the Grade 2 San Gabriel last time out January 13 here and at the Breeders' Cup Marathon after a decent second in the minor Bull Dog Handicap and a third in the minor Ralph M. Hinds Handicap at Fairplex Park September 23.

Bridge of Gold - had two wins, a second and two third place finishes in Europe before a ninth last time out in his North American debut - the minor American St. Leger Stakes at Arlington Park August 18.

Fast Track - has finished third in four of his last six starts but is coming off a disappointing seventh in the Grade 2 San Gabriel here January 13 after a good third in the Grade 3 All American Stakes at Golden Gate November 23. He only had three starts in 2012 with two third place finishes and a fifth and has just two wins in 13 career starts.

Smart Ellis - had six starts in 2012 and has 11 career starts. Smart Ellis opened last year with a second in an Allowance at Santa Anita, took six months off and returned to a score in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Del Mar July 20. His next two starts resulted in a distant eighth four back in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby and an OK third in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on this track November 2. His last two starts have been poor - a twelfth two back in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby and seventh last time out in the Grade 2 Sir Beaufort here December 26.

Huntsville - Stakes placed gelding has consecutive runner-up finishes ahead of the San Marcos - the Crystal water Stakes and a Claiming race both on this track. He has been in stakes company just once - an eighth place finish four back in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby.

Shaun Washington - will make his graded stakes debut for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer after 13 starts produced two wins, a second and two third place finishes. His minor stakes starts resulted in fourths - the Big Bear Handicap three back and the El Cajun four back.