Wild Dude will try to defend his title when he returns for a third consecutive try in the $300,000 San Carlos Stakes (gr. II) for older horses going seven furlongs March 12 at Santa Anita Park.
After running fourth but missing by just a half length two years ago, last year the son of Wildcat Heir raced uncharacteristically close to the pace and defeated Kobe's Back, who he faces here again, by a three-quarters of a length.
Wild Dude ran sixth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) last year, rallying late from far back. He had won the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (gr. I) a month earlier from 15 lengths off the lead, two races after taking the Bing Crosby (gr. I) at Del Mar. Wild Dude and Kobe's Back share co-highweight of 124 pounds in the San Carlos, giving their six foes five pounds.
Kobe's Back took the Palos Verdes (gr. II) at six furlongs last out in February in his seasonal debut. He finished immediately behind Wild Dude in the Breeders' Cup, and although he placed in several graded affairs in 2015, his lone win came in the Commonwealth Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland. Like Wild Dude, he generally does his running from off the pace.
Calculator is an intriguing entry here. He has won his last two starts, taking the Sham Stakes (gr. III) at a mile in his only 2015 race and then an allowance optional claimer at seven furlongs last month. As a 2-year-old in 2014 he finished second in both the Del Mar Futurity and Frontrunner Stakes (both gr. I) behind a horse named American Pharoah . Though lightly raced, it is obvious Calculator has both speed and talent.
San Onofre started 2016 with a victory in the Midnight Lute Stakes (gr. III) and then checked in fourth as the favorite in the Cal Cup Sprint. He has run consistently well in graded stakes for the past year and his early speed makes him dangerous here.Outside Nashville has done his best running up north, most recently winning the Lost in the Fog Stakes in impressive fashion. He finished fourth in last year's San Carlos and also is reliant on a hot pace to close into.
Cautious Giant dipped his toe into graded company for the first time last month, gaining the lead but finishing third in the Palos Verdes. He had won his previous two races in allowance optional claiming company.Coastline scored in the Clockers Corner Stakes last out over turf, and was second on grass in the Daytona Stakes (gr. IIIT) before that. He hasn't done a lot of dirt racing and is a wild card here. Mystery Train continues to cut back in distance. He has not made an impression in his five starts on this circuit.
Entries: San Carlos S. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 12, 2016, Race 9
- Grade II
- 7f
- Dirt
- $300,000
- 4 yo's & up
- 4:08 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Calculator (FL) | Flavien Prat | 119 | Peter Miller | 5/2 |
| 2 | 2Coastline (KY) | Tyler Baze | 119 | Philip D'Amato | 12/1 |
| 3 | 3Wild Dude (FL) | Rafael Bejarano | 124 | Jerry Hollendorfer | 5/2 |
| 4 | 4San Onofre (CA) | Edwin A. Maldonado | 119 | Karen Headley | 6/1 |
| 5 | 5Cautious Giant (KY) | Santiago Gonzalez | 119 | Kristin Mulhall | 10/1 |
| 6 | 6Mystery Train (ARG) | Joseph Talamo | 119 | Darrell Vienna | 20/1 |
| 7 | 7Outside Nashville (KY) | Martin Garcia | 119 | Jerry Hollendorfer | 20/1 |
| 8 | 8Kobe's Back (KY) | Gary L. Stevens | 124 | Peter Eurton | 2/1 |
