Race of the Week: Saturday's San Marcos at Santa Anita

‍The Lead:
Turf milers had their shot in the Thunder Road last Saturday at Santa Anita, while the trip extends to 10 furlongs for the Grade 3 $100,000 San Marcos this weekend. It's Santa Anita's oldest graded stakes on turf and has a rich history of winners like Cougar II, Vigors, John Henry, Bien Bien and Johar. The San Marcos goes as Race 7 on the program.

​Field Depth:
Grade 1 dirt winner THERE GOES HARVARD is joined by Grade 2 turf winners DICEY MO CHARA, ATITLAN, TRULY QUALITY and EASTER. Grade 2-placed NINELEVENTURBO adds more depth. It's very similar in terms of class throughout this lineup.
​​
Pace:
There's no real confirmed front-runner here, though DICEY MO CHARA, NINELEVENTURBO and ATITLAN seem most likely to be forwardly placed in what's projected to be a slow pace. A deep closer would be compromised by the expected race flow.

Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

#1-DICEY MO CHARA: 7-year-old has been off form of late and hasn't won since December of 2022, totalling 11 straight losses. Sixth in this race 2 years ago and 6: 0-2-0 mark over 1-1/4 miles on turf. Top jockey Juan Hernandez gets back aboard to help the cause. He's ridden 3 stakes winners at the current meeting.

#2-THERE GOES HARVARD: First of 2 Michael McCarthy trainees in the field (with Lord Bullingdon) and notably this barn won the San Marcos in 2022 and 2023. This 7-year-old's signature career win did come at this 1-1/4 miles distance, but on dirt in Santa Anita's Hollywood Gold Cup. Son of Will Take Charge has won on the local turf. Frankie Dettori looks for his fourth stakes win of the meet.

#3-LORD BULLINGDON: 4-year-old makes his first start against elder stakes horses, winning twice against juvenile stakes runners in 2002 and missing the mark in all 5 starts last season. Could give trainer Michael McCarthy his third San Marcos win in the last 4 years. First-time gelding adds jockey Kyle Frey as Umberto Rispoli jumps to ride Divin Propos.

#4-NINELEVENTURBO: Trainer Neil Drysdale won the San Marcos 5 times from 1998-2011 in his Hall of Fame career. But this 2023 Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap runner-up hasn't found the winner's circle since the 2023 Keeneland Fall Meet in allowance company. More Than Ready gelding is well-traveled nationally, but 3 of his 5 career wins have come on the Santa Anita lawn.

#5-ATITLAN: Least-experienced cast member has 7 starts to date, notably winning Santa Anita's Grade 2 Twilight Derby in October. He's yet to tackle older horses in stakes company, and the 4-year-old colt by The Factor also makes his first start beyond 9F.

#6-TRUE QUALITY: Eastern trainer Jonathan Thomas already has a strong Santa Anita showing with 2 stakes winners at the current meet, including Rashmi last Saturday in the Megazhertz. He looks to add another with this 5-year-old who has remained in California since winning November's Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar. That ran his win streak to 3 after scores in Colonial Downs' Colonial Cup and Woodbine's Singspiel. He placed twice in a pair of Santa Anita allowance races last winter-spring and is experienced over the course.

#7-DIVIN PROPOS: French export has won 2 of 5 since coming to Phil D'Amato's barn, including a 1-1/4 miles allowance over this Santa Anita lawn. Disappointing stakes efforts of late finishing out of the money at 2-1 and 3-1 chances against several rematched rivals for the San Marcos. D'Amato aims for a third stakes win at the current meet.

#8-EASTER: No jockey has had the stakes success of Antonio Fresu this Santa Anita season, already notching 6 such victories since the meet commenced Dec. 26. He was aboard this 7-year-old's victories in the Seabiscuit and San Gabriel in 2023, but they failed to click in 6 chances during the '24 campaign. Consistent gelding has 10 straight Beyer figures between 95-100. Deep closer doesn't get a lot of pace help here.

Most Certain Exotics Contender:
TRULY QUALITY has won over the course and distance and is on an absolute roll no matter the venue.

Best Longshot Exotics Contender:
NINEELEVENTURBO should be part of a modest pace and has was only 2 lengths off TRULY QUALITY over this trip in the Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar.

Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$75 exacta TRULY QUALITY over THERE GOES HARVARD; $25 exacta TRULY QUALITY over NINELEVENETURBO.