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Greg’s Gold Heads The Field in San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita Park
Greg’s Gold, a 7-year-old gray gelding who regained his status as one of the nation’s premier sprinters after blowing a tendon and being sidelined for 17 months, heads a field of 7 in the 70th running of the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, February 16.
The complete field of horses racing in Santa Anita’s San Carlos Handicap at 7 furlongs, with jockeys and weights in post position order:
Soul City Slew ridden by jockey Michael Baze carries 113 lbs.
Men Only ridden by jockey Martin Garcia, 113 lbs.
Circular Quay ridden by jockey Mike Smith, 117 lbs.
Greg’s Gold ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, 119 lbs.
Surf Cat ridden by jockey Alex Solis, 118 lbs.
Johnny Eves ridden by jockey David Flores, 118 lbs.
Cooperation ridden by jockey Tyler Baze, 113 lbs.
The California-bred son of Lake George, Greg’s Gold, freshened since winning Hollywood Park’s On Trust Handicap on December 22, will shoulder high weight of 119 pounds, one pound more than Johnny Eves and Surf Cat, a dominant winner of the 2006 San Carlos Handicap.
The winner’s share of $90,000 would elevate Greg’s Gold to millionaire status as he seeks his 4th victory since missing all of 2006 races due to a tendon injury. Owner Bill Boswell’s homebred has earnings of $917,923 from an overall record of 8-9-2 in 23 starts. Regular rider Victor Espinoza will be aboard for trainer David Hofmans.
Greg’s Gold has thrived over synthetic racetracks with a 3-2-1 mark in six races over those surfaces. He was blocked through the stretch when second to eventual Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner up Idiot Proof in his only previous start over Santa Anita’s synthetic in Oak Tree’s Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I) last October 7.
Surf Cat will be in search of his first victory since missing 13 months of action due to foot problems following four successive wins. Three graded stakes including the 2006 San Carlos Handicap were among them. This year’s renewal will mark his 5th start on the comeback trail that began with a pair of seconds that included a 1 1/2-length defeat by Greg’s Gold in Del Mar’s Pat O’Brien Handicap (gr. II) last August.
The 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Sir Cat has finished off-the-board just twice during a career that shows a 7-5-1 record in 15 starts. Surf Cat has earned $705,420 for Aase Headley and Marsha Naify. Jockey Alex Solis rides the bay trained by Bruce Headley.
Johnny Eves, upset winner of Santa Anita Park’s Malibu Stakes (gr. I) at seven furlongs on December 26, cuts back to a sprint distance following a heart breaking nose loss to Air Commander in the January 12 San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles.
Like Greg’s Gold, the 4-year-old gelding has demonstrated an affinity for synthetic surfaces with a 5-3-0 showing in 10 starts for earnings of $364,720 after a sixth-place finish in his career debut. Jay Robbins trains the Cal-bred son of Skimming for Mooncoin LLC. Jockey David Flores takes the reigns.
The race serves as a comeback vehicle for Circular Quay, one the country’s leading 3-year-olds last year while finishing 6th in the Kentucky Derby and 5th in the Preakness Stakes. Trained by Todd Pletcher for Michael and Doreen Tabor, the Thunder Gulch colt has been sidelined since last July.
Circular Quay is undefeated as a sprinter, winning his first three starts at sprint distances. The victories included a 4 1/4-length romp in Saratoga’s Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) at 7 furlongs. Jockey Mike Smith will be aboard the chestnut colt with earnings $1,177,434 from a 4-2-0 record in 10 starts. He was second in his only start over a synthetic surface.
The San Carlos Handicap is scheduled the 8th race on a 10-race program at Santa Anita Park this Saturday with first post at 12:30 p.m.
www.santaanita.com
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