AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
| SAN MARCOS S.
(G2), 9TH-SA, $150,000, 4YO/UP, 1 1/4MT, 4:07 P.M. PST, 1-19 |
|
| 1 |
RAMAZUTTI, 6, G, by Honor GradesMine Inning, by Mining O-Anstu Stables Inc; B-William Paca Beatson Jr. (Md) |
| 2 |
NIAGARA CAUSEWAY, 5, h, by Giant’s CausewayTheoretically, by Theatrical (Ire) O-La Bahia Stud Inc; B-Bronwyn Maddocks Andrew Harcourt & Skymarc Farm (Ky) |
| 3 |
ROCKET LEGS, 4, c, by DynaformerThe Right Pew, by Pulpit O-Alex G Campbell Jr; B-Alex G. Campbell, Jr. Thoroughbreds LLC (Ky) |
| 4 |
MASTERLY (ARG), 6, h, by Southern HaloMerry Sweet, by Gold Trojan O-Herrick Racing LLC; B-La Quebrada (Arg) |
| 5 |
DECADO (IRE), 5, h, by Danehill DancerPirie, by Green Dancer O-Super Horse Inc; B-Stonethorn Stud Farms Ltd (Ire) |
| 6 |
CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB), 5, h, by DanehillHasili (Ire), by Kahyasi O-Juddmonte Farms; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB) |
| 7 |
MEDICI CODE (GB), 4, c, by MediceanFiveofive, by Fairy King O-Herrick Racing LLC; B-Mrs T A Foreman (GB) |
| 8 |
OBRIGADO (FR), 5, G, by EnriqueBanakill, by Funambule O-Seidler & Vegso; B-M Didier Blot & M Christian de Asis Trem (Fr) |
Eight turf handicappers will travel 1 1/4 miles over the Santa Anita lawn in
hopes of bagging the $150,000 San Marcos S. (G2) on Saturday. We’ll side with
the four-year-old MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean) in this spot. Trained by Darrell
Vienna, the gelding has never crossed the finish line worse than third in five
grassy tries on U.S. turf and earned his lifetime-best BRIS Speed number (107) at
today’s distance. The chestnut should have a nice target to run at in the lane
with the two inside horses likely establishing a decent pace, and we feel that
Martin Pedroza will push the right buttons in order to pull off the minor upset.
CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) (Danehill) was a clear second in the Hollywood Turf Cup
S. (G1) most recently and has every right to improve in his second start for
Bobby Frankel. The impeccably bred five-year-old has faced stronger competition
than he will see on this occasion with solid results, finishing on-the-board in 10
of 12 career starts. The bay is far from a win machine and he might be worth
trying to beat in here, but we wouldn’t be shocked if he gets up beneath
Garrett Gomez.
OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique) has placed in all three tries at 10 furlongs,
including a third in last year’s edition of this contest for conditioner Neil Drysdale. The gelded bay
will be making his third start off the shelf and exits an even fourth-place
effort in the Hollywood Turf Cup. The one-paced five-year-old is always in the hunt and
should be good enough to finish in the top three. Rafael Bejarano has the
assignment.
Multiple Group 3 hero DECADO (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) finished a non-threatening sixth
in a loaded allowance race on opening day and could move up for Paddy Gallagher.
The five-year-old earned a strong 104 BRIS Late Pace figure in his tune-up for this
one and the dark bay should appreciate the added two furlongs in here. The Irish-bred should be used in the gimmicks under Alex Solis simply because we’re not
sure how much talent he possesses.
Grade 2 victor RAMAZUTTI (Honor Grades) is well drawn on the rail, is the
arguable speed of the race and hails from the mighty Todd Pletcher barn.
However, we still can’t endorse him in this one. NIAGARA CAUSEWAY (Giant’s
Causeway) is still eligible for a second-level allowance race and seems better
suited to that level at
this stage of his career.
Neither MASTERLY (Arg) (Southern Halo) nor ROCKET LEGS (Dynaformer) impresses
us.