Analysis: Midcourt's the San Antonio Stakes' 'now' horse

Gift Box returns to racing as a 6-year-old horse about to turn 7 in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita. While there are no clues to evidence he's lost a step since winning this race a season ago, old age catches up to all top horses. He is not a lock to fire off the bench this weekend.

Bettors may want to use a horse or two alongside Gift Box, and the most obvious alternative is Midcourt, the recent winner of the Native Diver Stakes (G3).

Midcourt won the Native Diver at Del Mar in impressive fashion by using a new strategy as the surprise pacesetter after taking control early. Jockey Victor Espinoza did not want to let Extra Hope coast on an easy lead in the four-horse field, likely leading to the style change.  

Midcourt controlled the pace by a length over Extra Hope through moderate fractions before putting him away at the top of the stretch and drawing clear. Under moderate urging, Midcourt won by 5 ¾ lengths.

For the win, Midcourt earned a career-high 123 speed figure from TimeformUS. 

Midcourt is less likely to make the front in this race with Gift Box, King Abner and Mugaritz lined up. But it will not go unnoticed how Midcourt improved by showing speed. Expect Midcourt to lay close or press.

This is possibly a star in the making, which means taking low odds is fine. At 9-5 or higher, Midcourt will offer fair odds to spoil Gift Box's return.

As for Gift Box, after spending 2017 and early 2018 in optional claiming races, he experienced a renaissance with his San Antonio victory over Battle of Midway. The switch to trainer John Sadler and new west coast scenery helped.

Gift Box continued the momentum by winning the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) by a nose over McKinzie and losing the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) by ¾ of a length to future Breeders' Cup Classic champion Vino Rosso.

But Gift Box regressed in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs when finishing a flat fourth, losing by 7 ¾ lengths to Seeking the Soul.

Gift Box could return to his better form and win again. He is getting older, though, and the Stephen Foster clunker made him look average.

For a more creative option, King Abner is one to consider after his easy win in a Nov. 16 Del Mar optional claimer. Martin Garcia sat still in the stretch.

King Abner won by 2 ¾ lengths over Rocky Tough, Federal Case and Curlin Rules, earning a 116 TimeformUS Speed Figure in the process. 

He defeated a soft field, but King Abner is not without graded stakes experience, either. Back in April, he finished runner-up by two lengths in the Sexton Mile (G3) at Lone Star Park. Two months later, he also finished a close third by 1 ½ lengths to Draft Pick in a Santa Anita optional claimer.

King Abner stretches out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time in this spot. From a pedigree standpoint, he is supposed to handle the distance as the great grandson of Exclusive Rosette, the second dam of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah.

If off at double-digit odds, King Abner is worth including in tickets.

The last contender to discuss is Gray Magician, who is not too impressive on paper after winning a Keeneland optional claimer and missing his Breeders' Cup weekend start due to sickness.

But Gray Magician also won the Ellis Park Derby by half a length over Knicks Go and ran second by 2 ½ lengths to Mr. Money in the Indiana Derby (G3). Two back, he also looked like a winner over eventual Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run before hanging in the stretch of Parx's Smarty Jones Stakes (G3).

As a 3-year-old colt trained by Peter Miller, a move forward is possible. It's worth taking a shot on Gray Magician given he is no lower than third choice.

Some attention will fall toward Draft Pick as well. But he was flat in the Clark Stakes (G1) at Churchill when fourth by 4 ¼ lengths and did not run well in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) either when fifth by 14 ¼ lengths.

At most, Draft Pick looks like an underneath horse.

In any case, Midcourt is clearly the “now” horse in this race. The 4-year-old gelding is on the upswing for trainer John Shirreffs and could become one of the division leaders soon. He deserves the “A” spot in tickets alongside Gift Box, while King Abner and Gray Magician are more value-oriented options.