San Luis Rey Stakes (Grade 3)- $100.000 Purse
SA- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Turf
March 20, 2021
Older turf horses that like to keep on running will get a chance to show their talent in the 16th running of the San Luis Rey Stakes, and in it, we will see if we can have a back to back winner. Last year, Controlled Power went to the winner’s circle for Spankys Barn in what was the second quickest running of the race in its history. He has not won since that race, but sometimes going back to a race where you have had success works out nicely. He is one of the nine horses that we will see run here, so let’s look at the field!
#1- Controlled Power (Spankys Barn, ridden by U Rispoli)- After he won this race last year, Controlled Power continued to be on strong form for a couple of races with second place runs in two Grade 2’s, but after that, the performances began to slip. He is still looking for that next win, and we have seen examples where a return to a former scene of glory has worked out well.
#2- Maybe Tonight (Alydar Stables, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- This horse has been around for a while, making his 29th career start and among them he has had several opportunities to win a graded stake. As of now, he still has not done so, and only recently won an ungraded stake for the first time. He’d been getting better results up until his last race, so maybe it will happen tonight. I can’t pick him, though.
#3- King Que Niagra (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J J Hernandez)- It’s LA Derby weekend out at FG, and King Que Niagra was able to be a part of that race. He came up short, and was sold for $200.000 a couple weeks later to D J C Racing Stables. He’d subsequently win two of his next three races, but still has not been able to find a win in a graded event. He’s had some chances, and I like an effort he had at AQU in November at eleven furlongs. If he can duplicate that, he might win here.
#4- Keg Size (Bomberracing, ridden by M E Smith)- Proved to be a great $25.000 claim as he may have gotten lost in the shuffle at Maxmillion Farm. With that trainer, he did win three of four, but all were in overnights. Bomberracing picked him up in a claim and right away elevated him into a Grade 3. That worked well as he was third in the Connally BC Turf. Now, he will try to build off of that in this race.
#5- Hollywood Hero (Nakamura Stables, ridden by T C Baze)- This gelding has won seven of his 18 career starts, but he has become a much improved horse since being moved to the grass. That switch happened in late June last year, and has won four of seven since that move. A couple of ungraded stakes are a part of that total, and as he adds some distance, the trainer hopes for a graded win.
#6- Cp Decima Pi (Greyfriars Stable, ridden by G Franco)- Added by the trainer to his arsenal in the December auction, for $100.010. He had two wins in 13 starts up to that point, and had been seen in ungraded stakes. Since the move, he has failed to hit the board, but regardless of that, he is making his graded debut here. Perhaps, the added distance is what will get him back to the winners circle.
#7- Long Term Deal (Arindel, ridden by V Espinoza)- This gelding makes his 20th start here, and he has not been one to be known for picking up wins. That has only happened twice for him, but that second one did come right here in an allowance at this distance. He’s been much better hitting the board, doing so in his last five races and nine of his last ten. I think that’s a run that continues, but won’t put him on top.
#8- Key Biscayne (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by J Rosario)- Picked up by the trainer in May of last year after back to back wins in claimers. So far, he has not done much for TwinTowersRacing, starting with several finishes out of the money, but that has improved a little bit of late. He ran here in that same aforementioned allowance that Long Term Deal won, and was third, a length behind his rival here. Trending in the right direction, it seems, but not my pick.
#9- Shimoon Chai (Martyparty, ridden by D Van Dyke)- This six year old gelding has plenty of experience, and will be making his 32nd start here. Overall, he’s won eleven races, which includes doing very well in starter allowances that actually filled. After winning at a mile and a half at GP in his last race, Shimoon Chai will make his stake debut (of any sort) right here.
Prediction: 1-7-3-4
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
