The three-quarters of a length that separated The Lumber Guy from Trinniberg
The New York-bred gray, who notched the Grade 1 Vosburgh and Grade 2 Jerome
Kept in California under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale
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The early pace of the seven-furlong San Carlos is likely to be set by Grade 1
veteran Comma to the Top, who led throughout in taking the off-the-turf Grade 3
Daytona over 6 1/2 furlongs in late December. The five-year-old gelding couldn’t
quite replicate that feat in the January 19 Palos Verdes, retreating to fourth
after setting a pressured pace.
Also exiting the six-furlong Palos Verdes is that race’s 21-1 upset winner,
Sahara Sky, and third-place finisher Justin Phillip. The beneficiary of a
complete pace meltdown, the previously allowance-class Sahara Sky was making
only his second appearance in stakes company. Justin Philip, the slight 5-2
favorite in the Palos Verdes, flattened out late after making a stretch bid. The
five-year-old is winless in stakes company since the 2011 Grade 2 Woody
Stephens.
Bob Baffert will saddle Grade 2 winners Capital Account and Drill. The former
fell far behind in the Daytona last time and made up only a modest amount of
ground to be fourth, while Drill was unplaced in both the Malibu and Palos
Verdes in his two starts since returning from an extended layoff.
Stakes veteran Midnight Transfer might be one of the San Carlos favorites
after a sharp allowance tally January 12 following a nine-month layoff. The San
Carlos field is completed by Canonize, most recently fifth in the Palos Verdes.
The supporting feature on Saturday is the $75,000
Joe Hernandez
Handicap, an about 6 1/2-furlong turf dash for older horses. Unbridled’s
Note, who captured the course-and-distance Grade 3 Eddie D in his turf debut in
September, subsequently placed in both the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and
Malibu and will be a heavy favorite against six rivals.
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