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-1:40.99 (Wahpekute Sioux-2023)
1st: #8 Wahpekute Sioux (Mb Stables/P. Lopez): Away between runners in leading trio. Forced to go four-wide around first bend while trying to clear. Finally got to the rail, with the lead, with three-quarters left to run. Was able to ration his speed through the middle stages to hit the top of the lane on a two-length advantage. Drifted-out a bit through the lane but had enough late to keep rivals at bay in stake’s record time.
2nd: #1 Quiet Return (Allinthegate/T. Gaffalione): Held the rail in six-horse tracking flight early. Started closing the gap, incrementally, nearing the 2nd turn. Began reducing his deficit, in earnest, leaving the eighth pole, but couldn’t get by the winner.
3rd: #6 Hiei (Fractious/J.R. Velazquez): Off slow to trail briefly but was able to right himself and settle in the two-path about four from the front. Caught behind a wall of horses leaving the turn for home, ran into a seam with a furlong to go and ran through the wire to just be beaten a length.
4th: #3 Deep State (Sccj Stables/L. Saez): Taken back a bit to be 7th after breaking in the large tracking group. Got clear rail-run turning for home but found his best stride too late.
5th: #2 Domiano (Night Mare Stables/J. Lezcano): Kept his path around the first turn while racing in the tracking group. Appeared empty on the drive for home but re-engaged to secure the final five points.
Wahpekute Sioux improves to 7-3-2-0 with earnings of $423.160 and moves to 2nd on the KYD leaderboard with 54 qualification points. The time for the 8.5-furlongs was a G2 San Felipe-record 1:40.99. Congratulations to Wahpekute Sioux and Mb Stables on their victory and good luck to all moving forward.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
