San Carlos

Hasty Kris is now perfect in two starts in 2005 (Juan Garcia/Horsephotos.com)

C R K Stable’s HASTY KRIS (Kissin Kris) split rivals leaving the far turn and
drove to a half-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000
San Carlos H. (G2) at
Santa Anita. Trained by John Sadler, the eight-year-old gelding withstood the
late rally of runner-up Harvard Avenue (You and I) to earn his first graded
victory and improved his lifetime mark to 42-9-8-5 with $571,197 in earnings.
Hasty Kris finished the fast seven-furlong contest in 1:21 2/5 with jockey Rene
Douglas.

“We were very happy not to see Pico Central (Brz) (Spend a Buck) in here,”
Sadler said. “I was concerned about the (rail) post, but Rene has won three for
three on him.”

Sent off the near 4-1 second choice in the eight-horse field, Hasty Kris
stalked the early pace from the inside as Sinister G (Matty G) set fractions of
:22 and :44 2/5 before giving way. The eventual winner had to await room on the
far turn but found a seam as he straightened into the stretch, collaring Perfect
Moon (Malibu Moon), who assumed the advantage through six furlongs 1:08 4/5, in
midstretch. Hasty Kris edged clear in deep stretch and then gamely held the
late-running Harvard Avenue at bay.

The winner gave back payoffs of $9.80, $5.60 and $4.60 and keyed the $33.80
exacta ($1) with 9-1 shot Harvard Avenue, who returned $8.40 and $5.40. It was
another length back to Perfect Moon, who was off at 7-1 and paid $5.20. The $1
trifecta totaled $168.40 and the 1-6-5-2 superfecta ($1) was good for $719.30 with
Choctaw Nation (Louis Quatorze) in fourth.