Midcourt's connections turn attention to Santa Anita Handicap

Following his dominant victory in Saturday’s San Pasqual Stakes (G2), Midcourt will now try and provide owner C R K Stable and trainer John Shirreffs -- both longtime players on the southern California racing circuit -- with a first-ever victory in the historic Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

On Sunday, Shirreffs said Midcourt exited his 3 ½-length San Pasqual win in good order and confirmed the 1 ¼-mile Big ‘Cap on March 7 is next on the agenda. This figures to set up an intriguing rematch with Gift Box, who in the Dec. 28 San Antonio (G3) at Santa Anita put an end to Midcourt’s previous four-race winning streak.

A 5-year-old gelding by Midnight Lute, Midcourt has flashed no shortage of talent since returning from a 16-month layoff at the start of 2019, earning his diploma in his second start back last June. While the ability is unquestioned, Midcourt has been described as “quirky” by his connections.

In the San Antonio, Midcourt cost himself any real chance of winning after breaking tardy. Shirreffs said he subsequently went back to work with Midcourt on his gate behavior and it paid off on Saturday. 

“We took him to the gate and schooled him a few times after that last race so that he would be a little more settled in the gate,” Shirreffs said. “The more he relaxes, the better horse he’ll be.”

In the 1 ?-mile San Pasqual, Midcourt broke like a shot under Victor Espinoza and never gave his competitors a chance. He clicked off fractions of :23.81, :47.31, 1:11.26 and 1:36.22 before crossing the wire in a sharp 1:48.49. The effort registered a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

C R K Stable principal Lee Searing, who campaigns horses with his wife, Susan heaped praise on Shirreffs for his patient handling of Midcourt.

“[Midcourt] is a goofball...If you could stand beside the barn and see the little things John puts him through, it’s amazing,” Searing said. “Now he can’t wait to get out there and compete. We gelded him, which helped. I’ve only had one other horse in the Santa Anita Handicap, so this is exciting.”

Midcourt’s rise to the top of the southern California handicap ranks has been a long time coming. He debuted as a 2-year-old in fall 2017 but failed to hit the board in two starts that season. Shirreffs said Midcourt “just wasn’t into it mentally,” so he was sent to the farm for a “freshening”.

It was 16 months before Midcourt returned to the races in February 2019 with a second-place finish. He went on to win his next four starts, including the Comma to the Top Stakes and Native Diver (G3) at Del Mar, before finally bested by Gift Box in the San Antonio.