Stayers' Watch: San Luis Obispo Handicap · 23.02.08
(Introducing a new regular feature at Left Coast Racing: Stayers’ Watch, where I will be reporting on North American stayers’ races — run on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces — and the horses that run in them).
- Spring House
- Church Service
- On the Acorn
Coming into the 1 1/2 mile, $150,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap (gr. IIT), run today on Santa Anita’s El Camino Real turf course, Spring House and On the Acorn looked to me to be the class of the field.
Spring House had never finished out of the money at 1 1/2 miles or longer, and had the best average speed figure over his previous three races. Also, he was coming off a victory in the gr. III Carleton F. Burke Handicap in October and a strong third in the gr. I Hollywood Turf Cup in December, and was dropping back down in class.
On the Acorn had the best overall record as a stayer, winning three out of his last four, including back-to-back wins in the 1 3/4 mile San Juan Capistrano and the 1 1/2 mile Jim Murray Memorial handicaps (both gr. IIT) last spring. In his one loss at today’s distance he had a legitimate excuse, carried wide in the stretch of last year’s running of the Obispo. On the other hand, On the Acorn had not raced in nine months, and was starting from a low-percentage outside post position.
In the end, On the Acorn’s long layoff was probably the difference, as he trailed most of the field before finally finding his stride on the far turn. Spring House stalked the pace set by early leaders Sohgol and Porfido, then took over in mid-stretch and drew away to win by 2 1/4 lengths in a time of 2:27.21. Church Service, a 20-1 shot who hadn’t won anything other than claiming races since September 2006, and On the Acorn rallied strongly to take second and third, respectively.
The Daily Racing Form had picked Sudan (Italian Group 1 winner) and Porfido to finish second and third behind Spring House. Sudan won the prestigious Gran Premio di Milano last year, but like On the Acorn was coming off a long layoff, and also probably couldn’t handle turns tighter than what he was used to in Europe — he finished dead last. Porfido was a multiple G1 winner in Chile, including the 2005 Chilean Derby, but had never shown anything at this distance in North America — after helping set the pace today, he tired and finished fourth.
Spring House’s trainer Julio Canani said after the race that his six-year-old gelding might be heading to Dubai to race in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I) at 2400 meters on March 29.
If you liked this you might like:
What do you think?
« Stayers' races for 2008 Another stayer honoured »
