For the first half of Saturday’s $201,380 San Luis Rey (G2) at Santa Anita, defending champion and even-money favorite Itsinthepost was not best pleased being stuck in the pocket on the rail. His regular rider, Tyler Baze, help him do a Houdini impression to get free rounding the clubhouse turn, and it was straightforward from there as the French import joined an exclusive club of repeat winners.
Trained by Jeff Mullins for Red Baron’s Barn, Itsinthepost became the first to win back-to-back runnings of the San Luis Rey since the legendary John Henry (1980-81). That Hall of Famer was preceded by Noble Dancer (1978-79), and the only previous horse to accomplish the feat, Cedar Key, won in 1965 and added the second division of a split San Luis Rey in 1966. More recently, Bourbon Bay became a two-time winner, but not consecutively (2010 and 2012).
Even rarer than a San Luis Rey repeat is starting the 1 1/2-mile feature on the backstretch instead of its usual flagfall on the hillside turf course. Saturday’s renewal marked just the second time in its history as a turf stakes that it was so started. According to the Santa Anita media guide, the first was in 1989.
Itsinthepost had little choice but to bide his time on the inside after breaking from post 2. Racing too keenly as though to telegraph his unease, he drafted right behind the battling leaders through splits of :24.32, :49.35, and 1:14.40 on the good course. Baze sensed the opportunity to shift out, deftly steering Itsinthepost between foes, and into his comfort zone of an outside stalking trip entering the backstretch.
The favorite’s relief was almost palpable as he was perched in third, tracking Aquaphobia and Colonist, through fractions of 1:39.04 and 2:03.71. On the final turn, Itsinthepost ranged up to challenge, pulled clear in the stretch, and safely held the rallying Hayabusa One by three-quarters of a length.
The top two repeated the exacta from the February 3 San Marcos (G2), except Hayabusa One had come within a nose of springing the upset that day. A more typical pace scenario here, and waiting a tad longer to set Itsinthepost down, contributed to a relatively comfortable margin.
Team Valor, with different partners, was responsible for the runner-up as well as the distant third, the mare Responsibleforlove. She is co-owned by Mrs. G.A. Rupert, while Hayabusa One’s co-owner is Gary Barber. Colonist wound up fourth, and Rye, Aquaphobia, Play Hard to Get, Oscar Dominguez, and Saltini completed the order of finish. Frank Conversation was scratched.
Itsinthepost negotiated 1 1/2 miles in 2:27.73, becoming a millionaire with $1,095,707 in earnings from his 33-9-7-5 line. Track announcer Michael Wrona aptly described him as the “Grade 2 guru,” since the six-year-old son of American Post has captured the Elkhorn (G2), John Henry Turf Championship (G2), and San Gabriel (G2) in addition to the San Marcos and his pair of San Luis Rey trophies.
Quotes from Santa Anita
Tim Cohen of his family’s Red Baron’s Barn: “When Tyler was able to get to the outside turning down the backstretch, that was the whole key. You know how you’re watching a race and you wish you could talk to the jockey? I was saying, ‘Tyler, get outside,’ and he did!”
Winning rider Tyler Baze, who swept both graded stakes on the card beginning with Selcourt in the Santa Monica (G2): “I’ve been getting on him a long time and this is a really special horse. The guys at the barn have made this happen. They’ve worked with him and helped him develop, they deserve all the credit. The only instructions Jeff (Mullins) gave me today were to try and see if we could stalk (the pace) on the outside and it worked out great. When (Corey) Nakatani (aboard Aquaphobia) kind of went on with it, I was able to slide right out turning down the backside and it worked out great.
“Very few horses that you get on really want to win. This horse does, every time. I think he’s my all-time best horse now, for money-won…He has the will to win.”
Trainer Jeff Mullins on Itsinthepost: “I’ve had some good turf horses, but some of them, they’ll kinda tail off at some point. Not this horse, he’s just solid every time. With this horse, the further, the better.”
