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Eight Older Handicap Types to Gate for San Pasqual Stakes

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1/30/2021

   6    SA      San Pasqual Stakes (GII) 

            $200.000     4yo&Up     1 1/8m   Dirt         123lbs +penalties

The SoCal weekend stakes continue with the San Pasqual Stakes (GII) going a mile and an eighth on the main track and we have a nice field of eight set for this one.  Can you say anything bad about Groovy?  I actually picked him in the BC Day contest where he finished fourth, so he’s certainly one that I like.  He looks the best in this one, if he runs anything close to his ’20 form.  I’ll go to the outside post and put No More Haggis under my top choice.  Very consistent ’20 season and ran big to win by four in his last race of the year… he may be a horse to watch in the ’21 season.

Here’s The Field –

1
   High Fives    High Voltage    Prat F   123   7/2

Broke maiden and won a nice Alw race at SAR then shows a couple of near misses vs. graded stakes company in both the OK Derby (GIII) and the Native Diver (GIII). so he can run with this type of field.  Was third at FG last out in an overnight stakes… I’d give him a shot here.

2
   Machine Gun Tommy    Nakamura Stables    Gutierrez Mario   123   9/2

Took the Berkeley Hcp (GIII) at GG last out and was a tiring third at KEE vs Alw horses prior to that, so he’s been a good buy for this barn, as he was purchased prior to those two races.  If he can run back to that last out race, he should be right in the thick of things here as well.

3
   Orion Nebula    John Henry    Van Dyke D   123   7/1

He’s been one of my favs but I never seem to know when he’s going to run big or miss the board.  He hasn’t won since the SA Derby (GI) back last spring, but he was also second in the Fayette (GII) while putting away a nice amount of money last year.  Still, he was last on BC Day and tired badly in the San Antonio (GII) over this track last out.  Does he have it in him?

4
   Shadow Man    Axeman    Hernandez J J   123   8/1

Had a nice summer where he won three in a row including the IN Derby (GIII) and the WV Derby (GIII) then was the runner up in the Dandy (GII) and closed out the season with a good closing effort to be fourth in the BC Dirt Mile (GI).  Rested since the big day at KEE and shows a nice string of am gallops getting ready for his ’21 debut.

5
   Dirty Kruz    Nakamura Stables    Ferrer J C   123   8/1

Two wins last season including breaking maiden at CT and an Alw win at MTH back in Sep.  He was the runner up in the Discovery at AQU to close out his season and he’s been on a bit of a vacation since then.  AM gallops say he’s ready to run a big race today and he could be a decent price. 

6
   Groovy    Mb Stables    Lezcano J   123   7/5

He closed out the ’20 season with some big races winning the Dandy (GII) and the JC Gold Cup (GI) then ran fourth in the BC Classic (GI) so you can’t ask for much more than that.  He looks like the prohibitive favorite to me and should run big.

7
   Mintmach    Nolespan Racing    Saez L   123   10/1

Three wins last season including wins in the Alysheba (GII) and the PRM Cornhusker Hcp (GIII) then had a pair of eleventh place finishes vs. graded foes.  Closed out the year with a runner-up finish vs. Alw types so we will have to see if he can run with this type or if it’s another long day.

8
   No More Haggis    YME Stable    Espinoza V   123   7/2

Had three consecutive runner-up finishes before airing out by four in the Valedictory Stakes (GIII) going the marathon mile and an half distance, so I think it’s safe to say that today’s distance won’t be a question.  He looks like a horse that is improving and could make a mark here today.

COZMAN  6 / 8        Willie’s Green Card       6 / 8  

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Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES