Cleopatra's Strike shortens up, looms large in San Gabriel Stakes
Trainer Phil D’Amato’s Cleopatra’s Strike, a 7-year-old Ontario Canadian-bred gelding, heads a field of seven older horses going a mile and an eighth on turf in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Most recently a close fourth in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup going 1 ½ miles on Dec. 1 at Del Mar, this chestnut son of Smart Strike took the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship here at Santa Anita two starts back on Sept. 28.
D’Amato will also send out Overdue, who although ninth in the Hollywood Turf Cup, had posted solid Beyer Speed Figures in a pair of turf allowance victories leading into his most recent start.
Claimed 13 starts back for $20,000, the Richard Baltas-conditioned North County Guy sped to a one length, gate-to-wire victory in a 1 3/8-mile turf allowance on Nov. 24 at Del Mar, earning a career-top 92 Beyer in the process.
Off as Race 8 of 10, the San Gabriel goes at approximately 6 p.m. ET.
Owner: Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Lightly raced in 2019, this Smart Strike gelding had one win and two seconds from four starts, good for earnings of $185,400. Ridden by Manny Franco when beaten one length by eastern invader Oscar Dominguez in the Hollywood Turf Cup, he’ll be reunited with Abel Cedillo, who orchestrated his John Henry win at a mile and one eighth two starts back. Second, beaten a nose in last year’s San Gabriel, “Cleopatra” looks like the horse to beat on Saturday.
Owner: H & E Ranch, Inc.
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Off at 7-1 in the Hollywood Turf Cup on Dec. 1, Overdue stalked the early pace but tired badly late to finish ninth under Mike Smith, who will be riding him for the fourth consecutive time. A half-length turf allowance winner three starts back at Del Mar going 1 1/16 miles, he was up to win a second condition allowance at 1 1/8 miles on turf here on Oct. 5. With an overall mark of 8: 3-2-1, this 5-year-old gelding by Overanalyze will be making his second stakes start on Saturday.