The San Felipe Stakes (KYD) (Grade 2)- $400.000 Purse
SA- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
March 11, 2017

Above The Law struggled in his last start, and it was a bit of a surprise when it happened since he had looked so good in his Sham Stakes victory.  Whatever may have happened to cause that was quickly put aside by the trainer, and Above The Law would redeem himself in the San Felipe.  The El Camino is nothing more then a throw out now.  For Mb Stables, it was part of a great day which saw Profound Connection, perhaps the top horse I have seen since Five Fives, win the TAM Derby.  Normally, we’d say that a San Felipe winner would be heading to the KYD as a given, but the restrictions on entries for a trainer make it hard to predict.  Above The Law is third on the leaderboard, and belongs in the race, but it is too early to tell now.   Mb won the 2015 edition as well, but did not send Much Notoriety (currently up for auction on the 16th), to the KYD.  Aboard the winner was J Talamo, his second win in the stake’s history.  Congratulations to the winners!  The time of the win was 1:41.56, the second quickest ever.  Here’s a look at it!

1st- 7- Above The Law (16/1)- Our eventual winner from Mb Stables went off as quite a longshot as many must have been concerned with his performance in the El Camino.   He was good out of the gate, and looked like he might run with Sonar and Shen Valley, or at least near them, as they moved into the first turn.  J Talamo quickly decided that was not where he wanted Above The Law and looked to have him in a heavy restrain long before they even reached the backstretch.  Eventually, he would be ahead of only French E, trailing by seven.  Stayed back there moving into the turn before he took advantage of an ever so slight opening between Mancini and John Henry.  Mancini was slow to get it going, and that may have cost the post-time favorite as now Above The Law was in this lane, and set to plow on the through.  He was still behind Indiana Jones at this time, so the fact that he passed that one while they were in an all out stretch drive speaks volumes for the talent of Above The Law.  There was nothing getting in his way in the stretch.  With a furlong to go, all that there was left to pass was a horse who’s jockey was wearing the same silks, and he made even that look easy.  He would hang on over Indiana Jones to get the win and make a statement that he needs to be one of the Mb three in May.   Above The Law is a three year old gelding by Above Reproach and out Miss Ennis.  He was bred in California as a yearling by Heavens Own and acquired by Mb Stables, via Teamf Racing in private sales for $225.000.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 11- Indiana Jones (10/1)- Either he missed the start, or the John Henry had absolutely no intention of being near the pack early, dropping immediately to the rear.  Eventually, he would settle in ahead of a couple, and maintained a good lane to make a sweeping move to the outside if he had the legs under him to do so.  He would do exactly that, and I love the way he simply exploded on exit of the turn, making quick work of those who were just riding along.  He showed a powerful stretch drive, and one that will needed to be remembered wherever he shows up next time.  On this occasion, he comes up just a half length short.

3rd- 3- Positive Thinking (5/1)- The second of three entries from Mb Stables looked good out of the gate, and was always able to keep himself near the front.  Early on, he ran to the inside of Stanford and Finished Laffin.  Moved ahead of them and alongside Sonar towards the end of the backstretch trip, and prepared to make the run for the lead into the turn.  He was full of run while rounding the turn, and the trainer had to be liking how this one looked as he took the lead moving in to the top of the stretch.  Led by a length before being passed by his stablemate in the latter moments.

4th- 2- Mancini (3/1)- The post-time favorite, from Our Athletes, started towards the back of the field, running in the 8th position and six lengths from the lead around the opening turn.  Maintained this position on the backstretch, without showing a push forward quite yet.  In the turn, many were beginning to wonder if he was ever going to make a move as seemingly everyone else was.  With just over a furlong to go, the overdue move game by going about eight wide, and it would at least get a check for the trainer.  Will need to show that leg kick a little earlier next time.

5th- 5- Much Cruncher (6/1)- Our pre-race selection, from Aer Stables started the race in the middle of the field, running along side Romper Stomper early on.  Cleared that one midway through the backstretch, and seemed to have an ideal lane along the rail as the field moved into the turn.  It was ideal, until the tiring Shen Valley got in his way and meant he had to alter his path.  Once clear of that one, he emerged with a great shot and looked like he would battle wit h Positive Thinking and Above The Law, but he would come up a little short in the late moments.

6th- 6- Sonar (7/1)- Broke alertly out of the gate for Mb Stables, and had plans on contending for the early lead before backing off of pacesetting Shen Valley by a length.  Maintained his stalking position during the backstretch, and peaked to his outside for passing potential going into the turn.  Struggled to make that pass as he was tiring himself, and several would get by in the stretch.

7th- 10- French E (34/1)- Went directly to the rear of the field for Team 7 Illusions, finding himself just over eight lengths back as they moved into the backstretch, and he would remain in that spot throughout that portion of the race as well.  Was able to settle in to an inside hole in the stretch that allowed him to be better then those who were calling it a day.   Simply the best of the rest at this point.

8th- 9- Finished Laffin (11/1)- The Buddhabase entry started well, and was just a few lengths off the lead early on.  However, this also put him in a position to have to round the first turn while four wide.  This is a situation on the racetrack he was never able to get out of and remained four wide over the final turn as well.  When those moved around behind him, he never had an answer for it.

9th- 4- Stanford (49/1)– The longshot from Alydar Stables got off to a decent start, and ran to the inside of Finished Laffin about three lengths back as they moved into the backstretch.  Kept pace with the field at that point, and that would really be the store of his race, as he just seemed to run with the pack and those around him, but never made a move.  He wasn’t terrible, either.

10th- 1- Romper Stomper (14/1)- There would be no repeat for Australia Wide here as his entry disappoints.  It wasn’t bad at the start though, as he ran in the middle of the field, though lost some ground in the backstretch, and had nothing for the stretch.

11th- 8- Shen Valley (6/1)- Started better then he would finish for Keikowin Racing, jumping out to the early lead and running the opening quarter in :22.95.  Did not let up the quick pace over the backstretch, running a half in :45.90, and looking sharp moving into the turn, but would fizzle out about midway through.

Track: Fast
Time: :22⁴  :45⁴  1:09⁴  1:41²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 7 – 11 Paid 95.00
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 11 – 3 Paid 884.40

Scratched: Socraties

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES