The 19th Running of the G2 San Felipe Stakes
Saturday, March 4, 2023
SA Race #8 $400.000
3YOs 122 Lbs 11/16
KYD POINTS RACE (50-20-15-10-5)
Course Record-1:38.57 (Icicle-2005)
Stakes Record-1:41.28 (The Perfect Day-2016)
#1 Quiet Return (Allinthegate/T. Gaffalione): BC Juvenile Turf winner has been a bear on the main track as well. 2nd in LA Futurity and 3rd in G3 Southwest in his last two, he gets the rail and retains Gaffalione for this. Never OTB in seven starts, this one is a player wherever/whenever he shows up.
#2 Domiano (Night Mare Racing/J. Lezcano): Throw out the G1 in the slop, and this guy has yet to run a bad race. Has been victim to a bout of seconditis; however, the colt puts in his run every time. Don’t think he has to be too far out of it early, but he’ll have pace to run at if that’s what is asked of him.
#3 Deep State (Sccj Stables/L. Saez): Springboard Mile victor spun his wheels in seasonal debut down at GP on a “good” surface. That one snapped a three-race winning streak after the geld, and the return to a dry surface should be to his liking. Versatile sort should be able to get his desired trip from this gate and should have every chance to atone for his last effort.
#4 At The Gates (Mb Stables/Ru. Silvera): Gelding broke his maiden at KEE in October before running a bang-up 2nd in a WO G3. Started his ’23 season with tiring 7th in the G3 Southwest where he caught a “good” surface. Should get a dry strip here and the trainer is pretty adept at diagnosing what went wrong for his horses. Fair to expect a better performance here.
#5 State Of Fury (Alydar Stables/D. Van Dyke): G1-winning colt sandwiched a runner-up Springboard Mile effort with non-tries in the BC and Southwest. Posts weren’t ideal in those, so it’s nice to see him better drawn here. Should be able to take a hard left and get to the rail and save ground for his late charge. Wouldn’t be a shocker to see him run a big one here.
#6 Hiei (Fractious/J.R. Velazquez): Few can say the G3 Grey winner’s name; however, all feel his presence in the gate. Didn’t relish the going at GP last month, and he has plenty of versatility to take advantage of this middle gate. Should have no issues with this trip, and there’s no questioning his will to win.
#7 Sins On Broadway (Arindel/F.T. Alvarado): Mucho Macho Man winner returned to be 4th in G3 Lewis where he appeared to flatten-out a little bit late. Work tab suggest he is improving and gets a positive pilot switch to Alvarado for this main track assignment. Don’t expect him to be quite as close early on, and, if he can relax a bit, he may have more left in the tank down the lane.
#8 Wahpekute Sioux (Mb Stables/P. Lopez): Seller probably thought he was getting the better end of the deal when he sold his $6.250 claim for $100.000 two weeks later, but colt has done nothing wrong for this outfit with a stake win and two runner-up finishes. He did fade late at GP on a surface he may not have liked, but his two works since appear to put him right in the mix here.
#9 Preternatural (Jerry Garcia Racing/E. Jaramillo): Colt has only run four times, so it’s a small sample size; however, the two times he’s drawn a bit wider, he’s run much better than when he’s been on the inner half of the gate. Has the early foot to put himself in the race and should be able to sit a pretty good trip just to the outside of whatever pace develops.
#10 Crack The Party (Maxmillion Farm/R.M. Hernandez): Colt sold for $265.000 in December before breaking his maiden on the PRX lawn and running a bang-up 2nd in the G3 Southwest at OP. Catches the widest gate here but have to like the talent he’s shown in only three starts. Work tab suggests that he may relish getting on a dry surface, and any improvement makes him very live in here.
#11 Range Rover (Arindel/SCRATCHED)
#12 Prevent (Mb Stables/SCRATCHED)
Final Analysis: This is a loaded group, even without the two strong entrants that scratched. 1-8-10-3-9 is how we see it in the G2 San Felipe, but we will have boxes for all of the exotics. Good luck to all involved in this and all of their races this weekend!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
