San Pasqual Stakes – Grade 2 – $200.000 

SA – 1 1/8 Mile – Dirt

For Four Year Olds and Upward

January 28, 2023

1 Wrangler (High Voltage) Best recent performances for this six-year-old came in the Dominion Day (Grade 3) on a track rated good. Earned a 98 SRF that day and finished just ½ length back and in the Californian (Grade 2) in April, another second-place finish by ½ length. Last few starts haven’t been that impressive, but two of those came up sloppy. Not sure he’s up to the task against these.

2 Set In Space (Nakamura Stables) Coming here riding a three-race winning streak, including a win in the $100.000 Tenacious Stakes last start. A couple of those came in low-level allowances, but his last two starts were pretty impressive. None of them were as long as this race, but he has a win at this distance in stakes company. Works aren’t as strong as some, but this six-year-old gelding is possibly in the best form of his career.

3 Crush Rush (LionKing Stables) Turned in a strong performance in the Malibu (Grade 1) last out but could do no better than fifth. Before that, he finished third by a neck in the Native Diver (Grade 3) at the same distance as this contest. Works are solid, but he’ll need a big effort to get money here.

4 Don’t You Dare Forget (Jerry Garcia Racing) Won by two last out in allowance company. Making his stakes debut here. Last time he tried this distance, he came out fast and faded. Didn’t have that problem last out when he wired the field at 1 1/16 mile. Big step up for this four-year-old.

5 Ronaldo Chop (Night Rider Stables) Last win came on the turf in the International Turf Cup (Grade 3) in September. Didn’t like the off going at all last out Cigar Mile (Grade 1). Can’t say there’s much to recommend this gelding.

6 Puppet Master (Spankys Barn) Another one with not much going on lately. Won the Carter Handicap (Grade 1) back in April in the mud, but that was at 7 furlongs. Next out he finished a close second at a mile and a half. Hasn’t done much since, routing or sprinting.

7 Six Pillars (TwinTowersRacing) Won a high-level allowance last out at 1 1/16 mile in a very nice performance. That was three months ago. Second in the $100.000 Bensalem in June. Working well. We’ll see how he performs after a rest.

8 Pennine Way (Hippyheart) Put together a really strong list of performances, including the ONT Derby (Grade 3) before faltering last out in the Grade 1 Clark. Throw that race out and you have a real contender. Maybe he just needed a rest. Got one and looks ready to compete.

9 Good Guy (Arindel) Won in optional claiming company last out. You’d have to go back to June for another win, that one in the Winn (Grade 3). Working well, but he looks a little outclassed, based on current performances.

Picks: 2-8-7

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES