Third in the race a year ago, Red King took center stage in the 81st renewal of the Grade III, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as he forged by odds-on favorite Ward 'n Jerry at the top of the stretch en route to an impressive 4 ¼ length win under Umberto Rispoli. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Red King, a 6-year-old horse by English Channel, navigated the marathon mile and three quarters on turf in 2:46.67.
Breaking from the top of Santa Anita's legendary Camino Real Turf Course, Red King was unhurried early and was fifth, about nine lengths off of dueling leaders Kershaw and Ward 'n Jerry. Fifth, but only five lengths back as the field angled up the backside, Red King moved into third, about 2 ½ lengths off the leaders midway around the far turn and wheeled three-deep turning for home, from where he inhaled Ward 'n Jerry approaching the furlong pole.
“Growing up here in LA, this was always one of my favorite races as a kid,” said D'Amato. “I remember I used to stand on the apron way past the wire and watch them come home in this race, just so I could take it all in. It's an amazing race and it's really cool to win it.
“My horse won his last race and that picked his confidence up. It looked like maybe the favorite moved a little soon and Umberto was in the right spot.”
A first condition allowance winner going a flat mile on turf May 24, Red King was off at 7-2 and paid $9.80, $4.80 and $2.60.
Owned by Little Red Feather Racing Gordon Jacobsen and Philip Belmonte, Red King, who is out of the A.P. Indy mare Youre Speeding, picked up his first ever stakes win and his sixth win from 27 career starts. With the winner's share of $60,000, he now has earnings of $278,115.
“It was my first time going from the top of the downhill and … it is beautiful,” said Italian native Rispoli, who was also riding Red King for the first time. “The grass is amazing, it's a really good track. It's been a long time since I've gone so far in a race because in Europe, we used to go quite enough every day. But it was a good feeling, obviously you need a horse like that.”
Siberian Iris, the lone female in the lineup, rallied from far back for the place, finishing three quarters of a length in front of Ward 'n Jerry. Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke Siberian Iris was off at 7-1 and paid $6.20 and $3.20.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Ward 'n Jerry tired badly late and at 3-5, paid $2.10 to show.
Fractions on the race were 23.21, 46.66, 1:10.66, 1:37.53, 2:04.62 and 2:30.47.
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