San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita
Las Vegas, NV - Santa Anita Park in lovely Arcadia, California will be the scene of the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes this Saturday, January 5. Horses four years old and upward will be after the winner's share of the $150,000 purse when they race one and one sixteenth miles on Santa Anita's main track. The San Pasqual is a key prep for the $750,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, which is March 2.
A strong field of nine has been confirmed for this year's San Pasqual. It is race 7 on Santa Anita's Saturday card with a post time of 3:36 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all nine entries ahead of this Grade 2 race.
2013 San Pasqual Stakes Race Favorites
Coil - Bob Baffert trained multiple Grade 1 winner had two wins, a second and a third place finish in five starts in 2012 - wins include an Allowance Optional Claiming at Del Mar on July 26 and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship three back. The second place finish was at the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien Stakes August 26 and the third last time out in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct November 24 behind Stay Thirsty and Groupie Doll after a disappointing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Coil was terrific in 2011 as well recording wins in the Grade 3 Affirmed and the Grade 1 Haskell and finishing second in the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes. He has reportedly looked terrific in the leadup to the San Pasqual and is the horse to beat Saturday.
Ultimate Eagle - Ultimate Eagle debuted on dirt at last year's Strub Stakes, won that race over Tapizar and holds surprising wins in the Grade 3 Oak Tree Derby and the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby last November on this very track. He had been out of action since a very disappointing tenth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 3 as 2-1 favorite but returned November 23 last time out to a second in the Grade 2 Citation Handicap to Data Link after eight months away. He has won five of his last eight starts overall and did well at shaking the rust in his last start. Ultimate Eagle could be dangerous Saturday if he can find his 2011/early 2012 form.
San Pasqual Stakes 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Jaycito - Bob Baffert trained Jaycito endured a long layoff prior to a decent second place finish in the Grade 2 Strub Stakes on March 4. He went on to finish a distant sixth in the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap but did win an Allowance Optional Claiming on July 22. Jaycito raced to a seventh in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic four back and was third in the Big Bear Handicap here in October. After an ugly eleventh in the Breeders' Cup Marathon, Jaycito won an Allowance at Hollywood Park last time out at this distance and looked very good in his ramp up for the San Pasqual. He was a highly regarded two year old but has failed to live up to the lofty expectations since.
John Scott - has five wins, a second and a third place finish in 10 career starts but he has zero career graded stakes wins. He placed in five of seven starts in 2012 with three wins, a decent second in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap four back and an OK third two back in the minor Lava Man California Cup Classic here October 13. Last time out was an OK fourth in the ultra-competitive Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile here November 3.
Tres Borrachos - hasn't had a win since the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap last July but has placed in his last two starts - a second in an Allowance last time out December 1 to Jaycito and a second in the minor Big Bear Handicap here October 21. He has failed to place in his last four graded stakes starts but comes into the San Pasqual as the reigning runner-up.
San Pasqual Stakes betting at Santa Anita with OffTrackBetting.com
Hoorayforhollywood - another Bob Baffert trained entry raced six times in 2012 - no graded stakes action. Last time out was an OK third in the minor Michael Schaefer Mile after two wins, a second and a third place finish in five Allowance Optional Claiming races. Hoorayforhollywood takes a huge step up in competition for the San Pasqual.
Bank the Eight - Bob Baffert pupil has just one graded stakes race under his belt - a last place finish last time out in the Grade 3 Vernon Underwood at Hollywood Park December 2. That came after a six length win in a seven furlong Allowance Optional Claiming race at Hollywood Park November 10 and nearly four month layoff. He has five wins and two seconds in 11 career starts but and will be looking for a good showing against graded stakes company.
Key Decision - Argentinean bred Key decision has five starts in North America and will be making his graded stakes debut Saturday. He raced to a decent third three back in the minor Wickerr Stakes and won an Allowance Optional Claiming before that. Since then has been a fifth and a fourth in a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races.
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 last time out at Hollywood Park December 1.
