Aggie Engineer Headlines San Antonio
Aggie Engineer seeks his fourth straight triumph when he faces five rivals in Sunday's Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
The vastly improved six-year-old gelding earned his first graded score in the nine furlong Native Diver at Hollywood Park in December and he came right back to impressively nab the Grade 2 San Pasqual here on Jan 8th.
Joe Talamo takes his usual seat aboard the versatile son of E Dubai, and trainer Paddy Gallagher hopes to run his charge in the prestigious Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap following a big performance on Super Bowl Sunday.
The likely pacesetter and biggest threat to favorite Aggie Engineer figures to come from Gladding. John Sadler conditions the Florida transplant and he exits an easy local Optional Claiming win under today's pilot Rafael Bejarano.
Both of his career wins have been accomplished in one mile races on dirt and he steps up in class and tries to navigate another furlong in the San Antonio. He figures to flee the inside post and play catch me if you can.
Spurrier played second fiddle to Aggie Engineer in the Native Diver and San Pasqual. Bob Baffert's stretch runner has not been big on winning recently but he consistently picks up a check. Joel Rosario hops aboard as Rafael Bejarano opted to ride Gladding.
San Pasqual show finisher Quindici Man has been part of the Trifecta in six straight and can land a share under Patrick Valenzuela.
Big Shot Syd exits an Optional Claiming turf route victory and makes his first start on conventional dirt. He does own tactical speed but class is a question.
Pode Ir won at this course/distance in the Optional Claiming ranks on Jan 17th and needs to run faster to compete in this spot.
Dakota Phone ran in Saturday's Grade 3 Thunder Road on the turf and is expected to scratch.
Jarrod Horak's San Antonio analysis