Offlee Naughty leads traditional Santa Anita closing-day feature

In search of his third consecutive graded-stakes win, trainer Michael McCarthy’s Offlee Naughty leads Santa Anita’s traditional closing day feature on Sunday, the Grade 3, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano at about 1 3/4 miles over the Camino Real turf course. With its hillside start, a field of six older horses will compete in the 84th renewal of the San Juan Capistrano.

The race is best remembered for when legendary Hall of Fame jockey John Longden, on March 12, 1966, went out a winner at age 59 aboard Canadian-bred George Royal. He prevailed by a nose over Plaque, who was ridden by Hall of Famer Bobby Ussery.

A one-length winner when ridden by John Velazquez of the Charles Whittingham (G2) at a mile one quarter on turf two starts back on April 8, Offlee Naughty rallied from far back under Umberto Rispoli to take the mile and one half turf San Luis Rey (G3) by 1 1/4 lengths May 13, earning the same 97 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form that he did in the Whittingham.

Although a lack of pace could be a concern, Offlee Naughty, a 5-year-old full horse by Flashback, out of the Offlee Wild mare Acting Naughty, is nonetheless at the top of his game and should be tough to beat.

Owned by James and Donna Daniell, Offlee Naughty is three-for-six over the Santa Anita turf and he should relish the mile and three quarter distance. With an overall mark of 17: 5-1-1 including three wins in a row, he has earnings of $370,645.

Richard Mandella’s Brazilian-bred Planetario, who rallied to be a solid second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Offlee Naughty in the San Luis Rey, is a horse on the improve who will be making his third North American start on Sunday.

A two-time Group 1 stakes winner in Brazil, Planetario, a 5-year-old full horse, is another that should relish the stretch out from 1 1/2 miles to the 1 3/4 miles of the San Juan Capistrano. An even fifth in his U.S. debut going 1 1/8 miles on turf here on June 22 of last year, he earned an 87 Beyer and got a 95 Beyer off the bench in his second-place finish in the San Luis Rey.

Owned by his breeder, Red Rafa Stud, Inc., Planetario, who will be ridden back by Hector Berrios, has five wins from 10 overall starts as he seeks his first North American stakes victory.

McCarthy will also saddle the 4-year-old Irish-bred filly Duvet Day, who faces males for the first time since running a close second going six furlongs on turf in her Irish debut 15 races ago on June 18, 2021.

Most recently second, beaten a neck as the 6-5 favorite in the Santa Barbara at 1 1/2 miles on turf April 30, Duvet Day will be ridden back by leading man Juan Hernandez. A winner of the Astra at 1 1/2 miles on turf three starts back on Jan. 21, Duvet Day is owned by Cedros, Jane Bacharach and Richard Schatz. With an overall mark of 15: 3-4-2, she has earnings of $210,313.