Syntax tries to go the distance in San Juan Capistrano

Phil D’Amato’s Syntax heads a field of six 3-year-olds and up in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes, to be run at 1 ¾ miles over Santa Anita’s Camino Real Turf Course.

First run in 1935, San Juan Capistrano will be run for the 78th time on Saturday and has provided fans and horsemen with some of Santa Anita’s greatest moments, including Hall of Famer John Longden’s dramatic career-ending nose victory aboard George Royal in 1966.

SYNTAX: Off at odds of 27-1, he finished well from off the pace to be second, beaten one length, in the Grade II San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 ½ miles on turf March 25, which was his second start for D’Amato after running at Presque Isle Down near Philadelphia on Oct. 5.Irish-bred, Syntax is a 5-year-old full horse by the Danzig stallion Haatef who will likely try to mount a rally from off the pace on Saturday.Owned by Mathew Schera, Syntax was a Grade III winner going 1 1/8 miles at Delaware Park in July of 2015.With an overall mark of 18-3-4-4, he has earnings of $309,866.

THE GRADE III SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 4 of 10 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

1. Generoso—Tiago Pereira—122

2. Power Foot—Norberto Arroyo, Jr.—122

3. Runasaurus Rex—Brice Blanc—122

4. Inordinate—Corey Nakatani—122

5. Syntax—Rafael Bejarano--122

6. Papacoolpapacool—Flavien Prat—122