Texcess, who was entered in both the Golden Gate Derby at Golden Gate Fields and the San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita on Saturday, will stay home, Southern California-based trainer Paul Aguirre confirmed Friday morning.
With the change in plans, Texcess, the winner of the $1 million Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs in Louisiana last month, is now the 5-2 morning line favorite.
"He was already in a van over the hill at Santa Monica headed for the Bay Area but when we saw the condition of the track there, we turned around and came back," Aguirre said. Golden Gate canceled its card after Thursday's third race due to track conditions.
"We had intended to run there," Aguirre said, "but we had reservations after we saw how the track was. It wasn't drying out well. Luckily, we caught it in time."
The field for the San Rafael:
1. Kirkendahl, Kent Desormeaux, 3-1
2. Spanish Chestnut, Gary Stevens, 7-2
3. Chips Are Down, Rene Douglas, 7-2
4. Dover Dere, Jon Court, 9-2
5. Texcess, Victor Espinoza, 5-2
6. Iced Out, Tyler Baze, 8-1
Each is assigned 115 pounds except Texcess, who has 121.