SAN GABRIEL S. (gr. II ), Santa Anita Park , January 13, 2013 , $150,000 Guaranteed , value of race $150,500 , 4 yo's & up , 1 1/8 miles , 1:46.50 Turf FM .

Instead of slowing down with his advancing age, 7-year-old Jeranimo is picking up speed, as evidence from his most recent score in the Jan. 13 San Gabriel Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park for owner B.J. Wright and trainer Mike Pender.

The 23/4-length victory, which was Jeranimo’s ninth in 32 starts, left his connections optimistic about trying longer distances throughout the year.

Jeranimo, who was second in last year’s San Gabriel, has won five other graded stakes during his five-season career: the 2012 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (gr. IT), 2011 Citation and Oak Tree Mile stakes (both grade IIT), and 2010 Strub (gr. IIT) and San Gabriel stakes.

The son of Congaree, who has also placed in seven graded stakes, now has a bankroll of $1,197,400.

Since teaming up in the racing industry, longtime acquaintances Pender and Wright have also experienced success with graded stakes winner Polonius.

Wright, owner of a Pasadena, Calif.-based water purification business, combined funds with two partners to purchase his first Thoroughbred for $1,000 in the 1960s.

Jeranimo, who was a $50,000 yearling, was bought for $70,000 by Rick Taylor, agent, at the 2008 Barretts May 2-year-old sale from Eddie Woods, agent. Jeranimo has raced for Wright throughout his career.

Jeranimo was bred in Florida by Joe and Phyllis Bryant’s BryLynn Farm near Reddick. The bay horse is out of the stakes-winning Jeblar mare Jera, who was privately acquired by BryLynn toward the end of her racing career in 2000.

Jera was most recently bought for $150,000 by Gainesway at the 2011 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. In foal to Eskendereya, she was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

“(Jera) is a very attractive, quality mare, and a good mover,” said Michael Hernon, Gainesway’s director of sales. “She was a stakes winner herself and had already produced three stakes horses, including Jeranimo,” Hernon added of winning, stakes-placed runners Tizthen (by Tiznow) and Wealthy Aviator (by Henny Hughes).

Jera, who like her son was a turf specialist during her race career, is a half sister to Frisson (by Fappiano), who is the granddam of grade I winner and sire First Samurai (by Giant’s Causeway).

Jera is in foal to Tapit and is due in mid-February. She is booked to first-year Gainesway stallion To Honor and Serve for 2014.

Congaree, the sire of 12 stakes winners, will stand the 2013 season for $7,500 at Doc and Suzie O’Cain’s Highcliff Stallions at Mill Creek Farm near Stillwater, N.Y.—E.M.