March 14, 2016
The Grade II San Carlos Stakes featured one of the deepest fields assembled at HRP all year and at the end of it all, a wicked pace set things up for a powerful closer and Moon Landing was the best of them all, upsetting Sprint Champion Trench Admiral and Horse Of The Year A One to the tune of 23-1. A confirmed closer who ran out of ground in both the Vosburgh and the BC Sprint last year, he is much better at the seven-furlong distance and scored the second Graded Stakes win of his career and fifth overall, taking his career earnings past $600.000 as well.
Impending Decision (40.85) broke the sharpest in the San Carlos as a rank outsider and took the early lead in the chute as Port On The Horizon (9.40) took up the chase to his inside. However, it took nearly the first quarter-mile, ran in a solid 22.58, for the leaders to finally get down to the rail as Brutal (4.15) and A One (*4.00) kept them hung out for as long as they could. As soon as Impending Decision reached the inside, A One came with a resolute run to challenge for the lead and around the far turn, the champion swung into the three-wide path for his run at the win. A half-mile in a solid 45.48 saw groups of three lined up for their run with A One having the jump on his rivals, including BC Sprint winner Trench Admiral (5.20) who was bottled up inside behind tiring leaders. Into the stretch, a lane opened up for the star sprinter and he managed to squeeze between Impending Decision, who was still fighting hard, and a tiring Port On The Horizon but with clear sailing on the outside, no one really looked at Moon Landing (23.40) before it was too late. A sweeping move just outside the 1/8th pole saw the four-year-old roll to the lead and from there, he simply pulled away at will to a 1 1/4-length win over Trench Admiral, who got inside for second over an even A One. Oh Awesome One (76.10) came with huge strides inside to nab the final piece at more than 76-1 while Impending Decision and Port On The Horizon stuck around for midpack placings. Wild Glory (7.65) failed to fire, Shelby Mustang (*3.65) was no factor as the favourite and Chit Chat (7.30) and Brutal (4.15) backed away early to finish at the back of a solid field, led to the wire by a budding star.
Dismissed at 23-1 despite being a Grade I winner from one of the best barns in HRP history, Moon Landing was certainly up the challenge in the Grade II San Carlos Stakes on Saturday and used his patented late kick to get the job done for the first time since that win last June. Both the Grade I Carter at AQU and the Grade III Fleet Sprint at OP look like good options for him to continue his season with a return to races like the Triple Bend and the Forego clearly in reach for the now seasoned and improving four-year-old.
Congratulations goes out to owner Mb Stables and their four-year-old gelding Moon Landing, an off-the-pace winner of the Grade II San Carlos Stakes at SA!
Prediction Trench Admiral / A One / Shelby Mustang
Winner Moon Landing
Four-year-old bay gelding
Laffin Moon-Britnei (Northern Ruler)
Owner Mb Stables
Time 22.58, 45.48, 1:09.32, 1:21.32
Overall
Moon Landing 23.40 far back early, wide rally, sprinted clear
Trench Admiral 5.20 inside run, caught behind rivals, clear late
A One 4.00 middle move, weakened in final furlong
Oh Awesome One 76.10 inside run, between horses late
Impending Decision 40.85 set solid pace, tired
Port On The Horizon 9.40 pressed, evened out
Wild Glory 7.65 no threat
Shelby Mustang *3.65 outrun
Chit Chat 7.30 no threat
Brutal 4.15 wide run, tired badly
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
