San Felipe features Jaycito, Comma to the Top

Last updated: 3/9/11 7:00 PM

Jaycito broke his maiden when taking the Norfolk
(Benoit Photos)

A visually impressive winner of the Norfolk S. (G1) last October when
overcoming a wide trip, Zayat Stables’ JAYCITO (Victory Gallop) took a step
backward in the November 6 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs,
finishing a distant seventh after losing considerable ground early and bolting.
Moved from trainer Mike Mitchell to Bob Baffert over the winter, the big colt
will make his belated seasonal debut for that outfit in Saturday’s $250,000
San
Felipe S. (G2) at Santa Anita. The 1 1/16-mile event is the traditional final
prep for next month’s Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Jaycito, who broke his maiden in the Norfolk after running second in his
debut and in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), will be greatly tested in the San
Felipe. The field of 10 also includes COMMA TO THE TOP (Bwana Charlie), who,
like Jaycito, seeks to solidify his dirt credentials. The gelding won six of 10
starts last season, ripping through a trio of two-turn stakes at the Hollywood
Park fall meet. But after consecutive wins in the CashCall Futurity (G1) and
Real Quiet S. on synthetic and the Generous S. (G3) on turf, Comma to the Top
was a disappointing fourth as the 1-2 favorite in last month’s El Camino Real
Derby (G3). The San Felipe will mark his debut on dirt.

With the exception of El Camino Real Derby runner-up JAKESAM (Smoke Glacken),
the remainder of the field has already tested Santa Anita’s relatively new dirt
track. Among the first to do so, on December 29, was the Baffert-trained AWESOME
PATRIOT (Awesome Again), who gutted out a half-length allowance win over a mile.
The dark bay had previously lost twice to PREMIER PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus) in
the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) and Jack Goodman S., but that rival met his first
career reversal when third to the Baffert-trained The Factor (War Front) in the
February 20 San Vicente S. (G2).

Jumping from maiden sprint wins to the big leagues on Saturday are RUNFLATOUT
(Flatter) and ALBERGATTI (Unbridled’s Song). Runflatout won by 2 1/2 lengths and
finished up six furlongs in 1:07 3/5 in his January 29 debut, while Albergatti
shook off a loss in his debut to post a 1 1/2-length score going seven furlongs
on February 12 for Steve Asmussen. Jockey Garrett Gomez guided both colts to
victory, but has chosen to keep the mount on Albergatti.

Entering the San Felipe undefeated from four starts is the fleet BENCH POINTS
(Benchmark), who landed an open first-level allowance/optional claimer by 1 1/4
lengths last month going six furlongs. The gelding had faced California-breds
exclusively at two, winning both the Graduation S. and I’m Smokin S. during the
Del Mar session.

The San Felipe field is rounded out by SURREY STAR (Ire) (Dubawi), fourth in
the San Vicente in his seasonal bow, and Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) third-placer
QUAIL HILL (Candy Ride [Arg]).

Switch (purple/yellow cap) and Always a Princess (pink cap) will renew their rivalry in the Santa Margarita
(Benoit Photos)

ALWAYS A PRINCESS (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) had no trouble holding off the late
run of champion Blind Luck (Pollard’s Vision) in the La Canada S. (G2) and El
Encino S. (G2) in her last two, but faces a new cast of distaffers when going in
the $300,000

Santa Margarita Invitational S. (G1) two races earlier on Saturday’s card.

The chestnut miss owns just nine lifetime starts, but has compiled five wins
and two placings, including a victory in last year’s Indiana Oaks (G2) and a
third-place run in the Chilukki S. (G2). The Baffert trainee closed out her
sophomore campaign with a fourth, just missing third by a head, in the La Brea
S. (G1), and will attempt to add a first Grade 1 score to her resume while
keeping her 2011 record perfect here. Martin Garcia has the return call.

To get the win, Always a Princess will have to overcome La Brea winner SWITCH
(Quiet American), who is also riding a two-race win streak. Following her
four-length triumph in the seven-furlong La Brea, the John Sadler charge posted
a 3 1/2-length victory in the Santa Monica S. (G1) to open the year. She hasn’t
been seen in competition since that contest, and will be stretching out to nine
furlongs for only the second time in her career in this spot. The bay lass could
be vulnerable under Joel Rosario.

ST TRINIANS (GB) (Piccolo) has a score of her own to settle with VISION IN
GOLD (Medaglia d’Oro) after finishing third to that rival as the defending
champion of the Santa Maria S. (G2) last out. The Santa Maria was St Trinians’
first race back following an eight-month layoff, and she’ll keep jockey Joe
Talamo aboard for round two.

Vision in Gold has been unbeatable since trying the conventional dirt surface
at Santa Anita, taking an optional claiming test by 4 1/4 lengths prior to her
Santa Maria win. She’ll be getting a rider switch to Rafael Bejarano after
Rosario opted to stick with Switch