Denon, who will try to deliver yet another graded stakes win to conditioner Bobby Frankel, will carry highweight of 118 into Saturday's running of the $250,000 San Luis Rey Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita. The 12-furlong contest has drawn a field of nine runners.
A son of Pleasant Colony, Denon scored in the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) late last year before racing unplaced in the San Luis Obispo (gr. IIT), also run at 1 1/2 miles, last month. To win the San Luis Rey, Denon will have to defeat his stablemate, El Gran Papa, along with other fine runners in the strong field.
Continental Red has run two strong races this year without gaining a victory. He was beaten a nose in the San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT) in January, and missed by just a neck in the San Luis Obispo last out. Ian Jory trains the son of Flying Continental.
The field for the San Luis Rey, in post position order with jockeys and weights:
Continental Red (Pat Valenzuela, 116)
Ringaskiddy (Eddie Delahoussaye, 114)
Keemoon (Alex Solis, 114)
El Gran Papa (Garrett Gomez, 114)
Speedy Pick (Brice Blanc, 110)
Straight Flush (Corey Nakatani, 114)
Coyote Lakes (Mike Luzzi, 115)
Denon (Chris McCarron, 118)
Our Main Man (Laffit Pincay Jr., 110)
