Distance No Problem for Vagabond Shoes

Distance is no problem for Vagabond Shoes. The 7-year-old Irish-bred gelding won the Grade II San Marcos Stakes at 1 ¼ miles on turf Feb. 8, and stretches out to a mile and a half in Saturday’s Grade II San Luis Rey Stakes, also on the grass.

“He shouldn’t have any problem with a mile and a half," said John Sadler, who trains the chestnut son of Beat Hollow for two of his principal owners, Kosta and Peter Hronis. “He only got beat three lengths (actually, 2 ¼) in the Breeders’ Cup (Turf) at a mile and a half, and it was a very good race in the San Marcos, so he’s ready to go.

“He had a good work (Monday, six furlongs in 1:13.20), and at a mile and a half, he’s fairly versatile.”

Vagabond Shoes has two grade II wins in the U.S. from nine starts. Overall, he has an 8-5-3 record from 29 starts with earnings of $665,497.

The field for the San Luis Rey, race four of nine: Vagabond Shoes, Victor Espinoza, 4-5; Niagara Falls, Rafael Bejarano, 10-1; Lucayan, Mike Smith, 5-2; Fire With Fire, Tyler Baze, 9-2; and Temeraine, Gary Stevens, 4-1.