Santa Anita: Imagination stretches out for San Pasqual

After finishing third in the Grade 1 Malibu at seven furlongs on opening day at Santa Anita, Imagination stretches out for trainer Bob Baffert in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes going 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Santa Anita.

Among Imagination’s chief rivals are three horses exiting the Laffit Pincay Jr. (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on opening day Dec. 26, runner-up Tarantino, third-place finisher American Admiral and Express Train, who was fourth.

The San Pasqual serves is a potential launching pad to the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) going 1 1/4 miles on March 1.

Imagination was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Raging Torrent in the Malibu for straight 3-year-olds. One race prior, Imagination faced older horses in a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Santa Anita and finished second by a head to Tarantino.

A 4-year-old colt by Into Mischief, Imagination will have Kazushi Kimura in the irons. He is 11: 2-5-3 with $471,700 in earnings for the ownership group led by SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables.

Tarantino has been in top form since being claimed this summer by trainer Peter Eurton on behalf of owners David A. Bernsen and Rockingham Ranch. After a pair of victories in the fall for his new connections, Tarantino was second in the Native Diver (G3) at Del Mar prior to finishing second to J B Strikes Back in the Pincay.

A 7-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, Tarantino is 26: 4-7-4 with $351,670 in earnings. He will have Edwin Maldonado in the irons.

American Admiral, trained by Tim Yakteen, was beaten 1 1/4 lengths in the Pincay. Prior to that, he earned his first stakes win when shipping north to Pleasanton and winning the 1 1/16-mile Mt. Diablo Stakes on Nov. 16. American Admiral, who was ridden by Kimura in the Pincay, will have Reylu Gutierrez in the irons Saturday.

Owned by Donnie Crevier, American Admiral is a 7-year-old gelding by American Pharoah. He is 24: 4-8-3 with $328,020 in earnings.

Express Train, trained by John Shirreffs, was beaten three lengths when fourth in the Pincay. The 8-year-old horse by Union Rags has made three starts since returning from a nearly 18-month layoff. Express Train won the San Pasqual in both 2021 and 2022. Also in 2022, Express Train earned his biggest win when taking the GI Santa Anita Handicap.

Express Train will be ridden by Hector Berrios. He is 23: 7-5-5 with $1,503,800 in earnings for owner C R K Stable.