San Juan Capistrano Stakes – Grade III
1 1/2 Mile Turf Stake Purse $100.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st       Hammerfest     Smokey Stover         Gutierrez Mario

The older horses seem to be holding their own this year and it was great to see this one finally get a graded win after so many great runs for place money. He once again ground his was through this 12 furlongs sitting in an early stalk and then just kept on keeping on. He may not have a brilliant turn of foot but he is a high class individual who has one very good pace and at this level it was just too much for his rivals.

2nd       Lillehammer          Invicta Group Llc         Prat F

The filly made full use of her allowance here by going to the front and pushing the winner all the way to the line. She didn’t quite have the strength at the end but this was a solid performance against the boys and one feels there is a graded stakes win in her.

3rd         Chaos Broke Out             Nakamura Stables          Pereira T J

Stalked early but was just found wanting over this trip and one feels that he may be better over a mile or nine furlongs.

4th       Hollywood Dump       Night Rider Stables        Espinoza V

Made it a clean sweep for the older horses against the three year olds running a little better for being back on turf but he still can’t find the form that won him the Breeders Stakes last year.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES