“It seems like he's on top of his game,” said trainer Michael McCarthy.

Phil D'Amato will saddle three of the six runners in the Shoemaker Mile, led by Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm's Count Again (Awesome Again). The 7-year-old went to the sidelines after earning top-level success in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile last March and was closing into a slow pace when a close-up sixth while making his return in the Marker's Mark Mile. He could get a pace assist from stablemate Dance Some Mo (Uncle Mo) Monday.

Rockingham Ranch's Masteroffoxhounds (War Front), winner of last year's GII San Marcos S. over the Santa Anita turf course, turns back to a mile off a runner-up effort in the Apr. 30 GII Charles Whittingham S. for trainer Richard Baltas. The 5-year-old will be making his first start for D'Amato Monday.

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A winner of four out of nine Santa Anita turf starts, United has been idle since running a disappointing eighth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 7 at Keeneland—a race in which he finished second, beaten a head at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, 2019.

A 6-year-old gelding by Giant's Causeway, United enjoyed a terrific year in 2020, winning four out of his six starts, all in graded stakes, and finishing a close second in another, the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap three starts back on Aug. 22.

A gate to wire winner of the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at a mile and one quarter here two starts back on Sept. 26, United's lone “misfire” came in the Breeders' Cup Turf, a race in which he pressed the early pace but tired to be beaten 9 ¾ lengths.

Owned by LNJ Foxwoods, United will be ridden by Flavien Prat, who's been aboard for his last 11 starts, winning five of them. With two second place finishes in three tries at 1 ½ miles on turf, United is easily the leading money earner in the field with $1,453,549 from an overall mark of 17-7-4-1.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by War Front, Masteroffoxhounds made his first six starts in Ireland, winning one of them. A non-threatening seventh in his U.S. debut going one mile on turf three starts back on Nov. 7, he's shown rapid improvement going longer distances for Baltas—airing by 4 ¼ lengths in a 1 3/8 mile turf allowance Nov. 28 at Del Mar and most recently, winning the Grade 2, 1 ¼ mile turf San Marcos Stakes here on Feb. 6 by 1 ¼ lengths.

Although ridden by Joel Rosario for the first time in the San Marcos, Masteroffoxhounds will get the first-time services of Umberto Rispoli. With an overall mark of 9-3-1-1, Masteroffoxhounds, who is owned by Rockingham Ranch, has earnings of $172,942 and will be trying a mile and one half for the first time.

As is often the case on grass at Santa Anita, trainer Phil D'Amato will be very well represented, in this case, by a pair of horses, Ontario, Canadian-bred Say the Word and California-bred Acclimate.

In his first start for D'Amato, the current Winter/Spring leader with 10 stakes wins, Say the Word, a dedicated deep closer, finished with a flourish two starts back to be third, beaten one length, in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup going a mile and one half at Del Mar on Nov. 27. Subsequently 11th going 1 3/16 miles in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, he's worked six times since over Santa Anita's inner dirt training track, a regimen that has worked well for D'Amato this winter.

A 6-year-old gelding by More Than Ready that is owned by his breeder, Sam-Son Farm and Agave Racing Stable, Say the Word's chances would be greatly enhanced by a lively pace. A Group 1 winner at a mile and one half on turf at Woodbine Race Course, he's got an overall mark of 27-5-2-5, good for earnings of $469,292.

With leading rider Flavien Prat opting to stick with United, Say the Word will be ridden for the first time by Mike Smith.

D'Amato will hope to “have 'em surrounded” in the San Luis Rey, as his 7-year-old gelding Acclimate, will likely go to the front and try to take the field as far as he can under Tyler Baze. Bet to the 6-5 favorite in the Grade 2 San Marcos on Feb. 6, this California-bred son of Acclamation showed the way until collared by Masteroffoxhounds in a 1 ¼ length defeat—which was his third start off a one year absence.

With four wins, two seconds and as many thirds from 13 tries over the Santa Anita turf, Acclimate's connections will hope a hillside start may bolster their front-running chances on Saturday. Owned by the Ellwood Johnston Trust, Timmy Time Racing, LLC and Ken Tevelde, Acclimate, who was bred in-part by Old English Rancho, has earnings of $439,872.

THE GRADE 3 SAN LUIS REY STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 4:00 p.m. PT

1. Acclimate—Tyler Baze—120
2. Masteroffoxhounds—Umberto Rispoli—124
3. United—Flavien Prat—124
4. Say the Word—Mike Smith—124
5. Multiplier—Abel Cedillo—120

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m. All of Santa Anita's races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can wager at 1st.com/bet. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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With a hillside start, veteran 7-year-old Acclimate made an easy lead and set relatively mild splits of 24.41, 49.37, 1:14.19 and 1:38.49 under Tyler Baze, but Rosario had his prey measured and went on to a solid score in his third start for Baltas since being imported from Ireland late last summer.

“I was worried it was going to be a slow pace, and it was slow at 14 and change,” said Baltas.  “He was impressive last time and (trained) well going into this race…I told Joel to sit second and he did it perfectly.  He let the horse in front relax, but (that) horse is getting old.

“I changed the bridle and I changed the exercise rider.  I just wanted him to be more aggressive. … He's trained forwardly and we're fortunate to have him.”

A rousing 4 ¼-length allowance winner at 1 3/8 miles on turf Nov. 28 at Del Mar, Masteroffoxhounds was the second choice at 8-5 and paid $5.40, $2.60 and $2.40.

Masteroffoxhounds, who is out of the Galileo mare Outstanding, was one for six in Ireland and registered his first graded stakes victory today, improving his overall mark to 9-3-1-1.  With the winner's share of $120,000, he increased his earnings to $172,942.

“The whole time I was tracking the horse in front with a nice stride,” said Rosario, who was aboard Masteroffoxhounds for the first time in the San Marcos.  “I had a lot of confidence in my horse.  I was keeping him focused a bit in the last part, but (he) was much the best in the end.”

A multiple graded stakes winning California-bred gelding, Acclimate was second best on the day, finishing 1 ½ lengths in front of Starting Over.  Off at 6-5, Acclimate, in his 21st career start, paid $2.60 and $2.40.

Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Starting Over was off at 19-1 and paid $5.00 to show.

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Rockingham Ranch's Masteroffoxhounds will be making his third stateside appearance in the San Marcos. The bay colt, a maiden winner in Ireland last summer, was seventh going one mile in his U.S. debut last November. He powered home to a 4 1/4-length victory in a 1 3/8-mile optional claimer at Del Mar Nov. 28 in his most recent start.

Acclimate won the 2019 GIII San Juan Capistrano S. and GII Del Mar H. and was second over the San Marcos course and distance in that year's GII John Henry Turf Classic. He made only one start in 2020, finishing fourth in the Nov. 27 GII Hollywood Turf Cup, and he was third as the 9-5 favorite in his 2021 debut while facing fellow Cal-breds in the nine-furlong Unusual Heat Turf Classic S. Jan. 16.

“It's a rather quick comeback for Acclimate, but I had this race in the back of my mind for him,” said trainer Phil D'Amato. “It was hard to pass up $200 grand against Cal-breds [in the Unusual Heat], but at the same he's coming back at a distance he prefers [in the San Marcos]. I always had this race planned for him, if he came out of the Unusual Heat in good shape, and he really has, so we'll look to wheel him back going a mile and a quarter.”

D'Amato will also saddle Salvator Mundi (Artie Schiller) in the San Marcos. Claimed for $40,000 at Keeneland in September of 2019 has won twice in seven starts since for D'Amato. The 5-year-old gelding was most recently third in a one-mile optional claimer at Santa Anita Jan. 8 and he will be making his third stakes appearance Saturday.

“He's just kind of learning where he needs to be placed to be most effective,” D'Amato said of Salvator Mundi, who stalked the pace before weakening to finish sixth in the GII John Henry Turf Classic last September. “I think he merits another chance at a 1 1/4 miles for sure, the way he's come out of that race.”

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Originally scheduled to be run this past Saturday, Jan. 30, the San Marcos was moved to this Saturday to avoid heavy rains and will be contested for the 69th time.

Trained by Richard Baltas, Masteroffoxhounds, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by War Front, began his career at age two in Ireland and managed one win from six starts on the Emerald Isle before making his U.S. debut on Nov. 7. A non-threatening seventh in a one mile turf allowance, Masteroffoxhounds came back win going away by 4 ¼ lengths in a 1 3/8 mile turf allowance Nov. 28.

With Joel Rosario signed on to ride for the first time, Masteroffoxhounds, who earned an 87 Beyer Speed figure on Nov. 28, cuts back in distance a sixteenth of mile and looks like a “now” commodity that's capable of taking his first graded stakes for Rockingham Ranch.

In his only start last year, Acclimate was fourth, beaten two lengths going a mile and one half on turf in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup on Nov. 27 at Del Mar. Subsequently favored at 9-5 versus statebreds in the Cal Cup Turf Classic at a mile and one eighth here on Jan. 16, Acclimate flattened out late to finish third, beaten 1 ½ lengths. A veteran who does his best running on the lead at marathon distances on turf, Acclimate will be making his third start off a lengthy layoff and rates a solid chance with Tyler Baze back aboard.

Owned by the Ellwood Johnston Family Trust, Timmy Time Racing and Ken Tevelde, Acclimate was bred in-part by the Johnston's Old English Rancho. A Grade 2 winner on grass, Acclimate, a 7-year-old gelding by Acclamation, out of the Boundary mare Knows No Bounds, is 20-6-2-3 with earnings of $399,872.

Although never a threat going a mile and one eighth on turf in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes on Jan. 2, Cleopatra's Strike, who was claimed for $62,500 on Nov. 13, rallied to be second in last year's San Marcos and rates an upset chance in his second start for Bob Hess, Jr. as leading rider Juan Hernandez takes over for the first time.

THE GRADE 2 SAN MARCOS STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 4 of 10 Approximate post time 1:30 p.m. PT

1. Cleopatra's Strike—Juan Hernandez—120
2. Masteroffoxhounds—Joel Rosario—120
3. Starting Over—Drayden Van Dyke—120
4. Acclimate—Tyler Baze—120
5. Salvator Mundi—Flavien Prat—120
6. Oscar Dominguez—Umberto Rispoli—120

Early first post time for a 10-race card on Saturday is at 12 noon. For more information please visit Santaanita.com.

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