The San Marcos Stakes – GII
SA Race 8 1 1/4M – Turf
Purse $200.000
Four Year Olds and Up

And here we have a field of eleven turf routers lining up for this year’s edition of the grade two San Marcos Stakes. This race has some very tough runners for sure and it should be a very tough and competitive race. Now let’s go ahead and take a look at this field of eleven.

1. Laffin Parrot (20-4-4-5 $1,801.920), trained by Mo Mentum Farm

Well right here we have a graded stakes winner and Canadian classic winner when he was a three year old. He won the Queens Plate as a three year old and last year won the grade two Suburban. He will be running on the turf for the first time since his three year old season so not sure how he will run.

2. Cherokee Charlie (24-5-2-6 $335.850), trained by Team 7 Illusions

This runner right here wasn’t pointed at this race until last weekend because he was in the McKnight Handicap at Gulfstream last Saturday before it was a soft turf course and he scratched. So he reroutes to this race right here and I think he will have a decent shot if he runs like he did in his last race.

3. Corroya (14-4-4-2 $205.340), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Once again we come across a graded stakes winner but this one right here won his graded stakes race at six and half furlongs on this same turf course going down the hill. The only thing I’m not sure about with this horse is that if he wants to run this far of a distance or not.

4. Decibel (16-4-5-2 $1,084.300), trained by Threshold

A grade one winner right here and multiple graded stakes placed runner also during his campaign last year is coming into this race off of a second place finish in the Ft. Lauderdale at Gulfstream. He also fifth in the Breeders Cup Mile last year by a length. If he runs his best he will be there at the end.

5. Midwestern Slang (25-6-6-5 $2,332.620), trained by Gdp Inc

Also a graded stakes winner during his campaign last year but his best performance was probably when he ran third in the Breeders Cup Mile and only got beat by a half length. He ran sixth in the Ft. Lauderdale last out but that was a clunker and I think he is ready for this race today.

6. By Design (14-4-2-3 $234.560), trained by Mb Stables

This horse also was supposed to run in the McKnight Handicap last Saturday but also scratched due to wet conditions that day so he ends up in this spot. I think he will have a decent shot in here if he is a good enough horse to beat some of these more accomplished runners.

7. Sports Car (13-6-2-3 $573.510), trained by Mb Stables

And the stablemate to By Design right here but I think that this horse might have a better shot than his stablemate. He is coming into this race off of a dominating victory in the HOL Turf Cup which he won by three lengths over yielding ground. If it rains he will be very tough.

8. Laff All Day (9-3-3-1 $194.650), trained by Maxmillion Farm

The first of two entries from Maxmillion Farm right here and this is a lightly raced runner for sure. He ran second in the Smith Handicap last start to Cherokee Charlie. He might just be the speed of the speed in this field and I’m almost positive that he will be setting the early fractions.

9. People Doubted (16-4-5-1 $1,173.350), trained by Aml Racing

Right here is one of last year’s best if not the best three year old turfer there was. He won two grade ones in a row before running a big clunker in the Breeders Cup Turf. He didn’t run so well in the HOL Derby either but I think he needed a freshening and is ready to go for this race.

10. Chai Mission (19-3-5-4 $487.680), trained by Maxmillion Farm

The second from the stable of Maxmillion Farm is this runner right here and she is the only filly that will be contesting this race. She is a graded stake winner and also grade one placed so she definitely has some class. She is up against it for sure but I wouldn’t count her out all the way.

11. Oh Awesome One (37-7-5-7 $798.420), trained by TwinTowers Racing

Well this horse used to be a very good sprinter but ever since TwinTowers Racing bought him he has been trying to run him long and on the turf. He did run third in the grade two San Gabriel last out here at Santa Anita but I’m not sure that this is what he wants to be doing.

Summary

Well this here is a very good field of runners and I can make a case for all of them in here for sure. I think that it is just going to come down to who gets the best trip and ride. I think that is what is going to determine the winner of this race. Good luck to all in the race.

9-5-4-7

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES