French-bred Easter, fresh off one of the most impressive turf performances of the year in Southern California, looms a standout versus five rivals at a mile and one eighth on turf in Tuesday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes, one of six graded events on an 11-race opening day card at Santa Anita.
Turning for home in the G2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles over the Del Mar turf Nov. 25, it appeared that D'Amato's top turf runner Hong Kong Harry had the race in-hand, but stablemate Easter pinned his ears under Antonio Fresu and powered to a half length victory while earning a lofty 99 Beyer Speed Figure.
With Fresu set to ride him back, Easter, a 5-year-old gelding who had won three of his nine stateside starts with Maryland-based Graham Motion prior to the Seabiscuit, will be seeking his third consecutive stakes victory on Tuesday.
Owned by Madaket Stables, LLC, Easter was a half length winner of the restricted Lure Stakes at one mile on turf two starts back at Santa Anita on Oct. 28. With two wins from eight starts in France at ages two and three, Easter is 18-6-3-3 overall with earnings of $447,910.
Racing on the lead, D'Amato's Tio Magico went on to a gutty neck win in a second condition allowance going 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita Nov. 2 and could very well be a part of the exacta with Flavien Prat taking over from Fresu, who sticks with Easter.
Originally headquartered with trainer Gail Cox at Woodbine racecourse in Toronto, Canada, Tio Magico, a 5-year-old Ontario-bred gelding by Uncle Mo, will be making his 10th start for D'Amato on Tuesday and his first in a stakes since joining the stable in the summer of 2022.
Bred by Sam-Son Farm and owned by Sam-Son Farm and Agave Racing Stable, Tio Magico, who earned a career-high 94 Beyer in his most recent start, has won two of his last three starts and is 18-4-2-3 overall with earnings of $287,919.
GRADE II SAN GABRIEL STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
- Eastern Ocean—Lanfranco Dettori—121
- Easter—Antonio Fresu—125
- War At Sea—Mike Smith—123
- Missed the Cut—Irad Ortiz, Jr.—123
- Tio Magico—Flavien Prat—121
- Astronaut—Juan Hernandez—121
The post Easter Bids For Third Consecutive Stakes Score In San Gabriel appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
