San Felipe Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes is on tap for this Saturday, March 8 from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Some of the best three year olds in the last will be after the winner’s share of the $300,000 purse and the 50 qualification points toward the Kentucky Derby in May when they take to Santa Anita’s main track and go 1 1/16 miles.

A field of 10 three year olds will take to the track in race 5 on Santa Anita’s Saturday card. Post time is 2:00 PM. Let’s take a brief glance into the past performances of all 10 entries for this Grade 2 stakes – an important “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points gathering race and major prep for the Santa Anita Derby April 5.

Bayern – Bob Baffert trained colt has two career starts and will be looking to remain undefeated on Saturday. Last time out was a staggering 15 length Allowance score here February 13 after he broke maiden January 4 also on this track. He has been awarded Beyer figures of 92 and 98 in his two races and was sent off as the odds-on choice in each and should be considered the favorite for the San Felipe Saturday. Gary Stevens get the call from post 6.

Midnight Hawk – Bob Baffert trained colt has been very impressive in his career thus far – two wins to start his career including a victory by 1 3/4 lengths as 2-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes here January 11 after a MSW score in his debut at Hollywood Park January 13. Last time out was a respectable third as favorite in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes February 8. Midnight Hawk looks very much like an early Derby contender and is one to watch out for this weekend. Mike Smith will be in the saddle from post 9.

Kristo – made his stakes debut January 11 for trainer John Sadler and finished a very good second behind Midnight Hawk in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes after placing in all three of his previous career starts. He broke maiden by 6 3/4 lengths here October 30 after a pair of seconds in similar races this summer. He now has a win and three seconds in four career starts and should be right in the mix again Saturday. Joel Rosario will ride for the first time from gate 7.

California Chrome – Art Sherman pupil enters the San Felipe on a two race win streak – both minor stakes races. Last time out was in the California Cup here January 25 after the King Glorious Stakes at Hollywood Park December 22. This after a pair of sixths including his only graded stakes race to date – the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar in September. California Chrome is the most experienced entry in the field with eight career starts. He has four wins in those starts with a second place finish as well. Victor Espinoza gets the return call from post 4.

San Felipe Stakes betting at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Unstoppable Colby – D Wayne Lukas trained colt races in graded stakes company for the first time Saturday but is coming off the only win in his five race career – a MSW in gate-to-wire fashion at Oaklawn Park February 20. Before that was a seventh in his stakes debut – the minor Smarty Jones Stakes January 20 on that same track. Unstoppable Colby has one win and a second place finish in five career starts and looks as though he’ll be in tough in his step up this weekend. He will be ridden by Luis Saez for the first time and line up in gate 2.

Rprettyboyfloyd – Dennis Breuer pupil started his career with a pair of second in MSW races on this track and most recently finished a respectable third in the Grade 3 San Vicente her February 16. He looks for his first career win Saturday in his first start around two turns and has placed in all three career starts thus far. Corey Nakatani gets the mount from post 3.

Home Run Kitten – David Hofmans pupil broke maiden two back in his second career start – on this track January 11 after a third in a similar race in his debut December 15. Last time out was a somewhat disappointing fifth in his stakes debut – the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes here February 8. He leaves from the rail Saturday.

Schoolofhardrocks – has just one career start for trainer David Hofmans and it was a good one – a MSW score on this track August 31. Joe Talamo rides from gate 8.

Sawyer’s Hill – has two career starts for trainer Kristin Mulhall – both third place finishes in MSW races – the last coming on this track January 26. Martin Garcia will be aboard from post 5.

Recanted – Doug O’Neill trained colt started his career in Europe where he won his debut and took until his fourth and last start to place again – a third at Leicester in October. Recanted has just one start in North America – a fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track January 16. Mario Gutierrez will be aboard from the far outside post.

Race 5 on Santa Anita Park’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 2:03 PM.