3/5/2022

  13  SA    The SA Handicap (GI)

        $650.000    3yo     1 1/4m  Dirt      Hcp Weights

We have a nice group of eleven older handicap types headed to the gate for The SA Handicap (GI), going the classic mile and a quarter distance here in SoCal.  We have the defending champion, older horses… you name it, everything but a filly, so there’s a reprieve from the craziness.  I’m looking for Real One to run another big race today.  He seems to love the going here and I think he will be a horse that makes some big money this year.  Toxic Personality should certainly have some support as the 8yo makes his 46th start and coming off of that runner-up effort in the Pegasus (GI), and he was flying late in that one.

Having A Blast, last year’s winner, and a handful of others must be given big looks, so this should be a great race to take in.   

Here’s The Field –

He was on the board in five of six starts last year, sold prior to that Pegasus WC (GI) race and was second in that one, closing a late gap.  He’s an 8yo, but seems to be fit as a fiddle.  Can he play his way to the winners circle today?

The 7yo kicked off the eyar with a nice Alw win at HOU and goes right back after them again.  He had a solid 21 including a win in this race last season which came off of an Alw win.  Can he repeat?  Mb may have the magic combination for this one.   

Only two wins for this one so they jump into the deep end off of that Alw win over this surface in his most recent.  That was a Cal bred Alw race and he has been close in a few stakes, but he will need his best to be part of this one. 

Won the BG Stakes for his only 21 win, but equaled that count taking down (DH) OptAlw types over this surface to kickoff 22.  He has a nice bankroll, so it’s obvious he knows how to get it done on a big stage… is this his spot?

His only win last year came at the $35.000 claiming level, but he was close in a number of graded races.  He was third over this strip sprinting to get 22 started, and was only a length back in the Palos Verdes (GIII).  Can he make some noise here?

He just never seems to run a bad race, on the board in seven of ten starts last season and was fourth in the San Pasqual (GII) to get this season started.  He had three wins last season and may be sitting on a big effort. 

Put some serious cash in the back last season with three wins and four other on the board starts, but really didn’t show much in the Pegasus WC (GI) at GP to get this season started.  He’s a horse with a late turn of foot, so maybe the traffic got him in that race.  Give him a chance to come back big today. 

It’s really tough to say anything bad about this one…  kicked off 22 with a win here in the San Pasqual (GII) and he may be a horse that is just starting to find his real ability.  He was also second in the San Antonio (GII) over this track… he likes it here in SoCal. 

He ran a solid race when second all the way around the track here in the San Pasqual (GII).  He won three races last season and doesn’t seem to have lost a step, so look for him to be part of the festivities late today as well. 

Changed barns prior to that Alw win on the FG turf where he set a new track record at the marathon distance.  Now don’t be fooled, he was fourth in the Peter Pan (GIII) last year, so the horse has shown some ability.  Can he pull the upset?

He had a solid 21 season and has been on the board in both starts this season.  He closed fast to just miss in the Razorback Hcp (GIII) in his most recent.  You have to think he will be in the picture when they come down the lane today.  

COZMAN   8 / 1                   Willie’s Green Card      10 / 2 / 8

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES