Ecrivain overcame trouble to win a Group 3 race in France at 11-1 last year, his lone stakes win in a season filled with appearances against some of that country’s top older horses. The experience of winning in difficult circumstances will be helpful when Ecrivain has his American stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields. Now trained by Richard Mandella for owners and breeders Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, Ecrivain drew the outside post in a tough field of 14 in the $250,000 San Francisco Mile. A lucky trip will be vital, Mandella said on Thursday. :: For the first time ever, our premium past performances are free! Get free Formulator now! “I’ve got to hope it works out,” Mandella said. “It’s not a good place to be. It’s simple as that.” Jessica Pyfer, the champion apprentice jockey of 2021, rides Ecrivain for the first time. A 5-year-old by Lope de Vega, Ecrivain was third as the 11-10 favorite in an allowance race at a mile at Santa Anita on March 25, losing by 1 1/2 lengths to the promising San Francisco Mile entrant Vanzzy. Mandella is fitting Ecrivain with blinkers for the San Francisco Mile in an effort to avoid a situation that occurred on March 25, when Ecrivain drifted to the inside in the stretch. “He lugged in a little bit and it cost him a little bit,” Mandella said. “I don’t know if he could have won, but he could have been closer.” Ecrivain is likely to race as a stalker in the San Francisco Mile, which is arguably the best betting race in California this year. :: Want the best bonus in racing? Get a $250 deposit match, $10 free bet, and free Formulator with DRF Bets. Code: WINNING The full field includes the stakes winners Camino Del Paraiso, Delaware, Freeport Joe, Get Her Number, Indian Peak, Jimmy Blue Jeans, Nolde, Restrainedvengence, Tiz Plus, and Vanzzy. Harmon, Evening Sun, and Tom’s Surprise are also entered. Restrainedvengence, third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar last November, was third in the 2021 San Francisco Mile. More recently, Restrainedvengence was fifth in the John Shear Mile at Santa Anita earlier this month. The San Francisco Mile is the first start in 28 months for Nolde, who won the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in 2019. Nolde was trained at the time by John Shirreffs and is now based with Steve Sherman. “I think if I was third or better, it would be huge,” Sherman said. “I would be tickled to death. It would be like winning. I understand what we’re up against. I know it’s hard. Sometimes, with horses with a little back class, things can happen. “I think you have to have a good trip with that many horses. You’ve got to get lucky. It will be a jockey’s race.” There are six stakes on the 12-race program, which begins at 1:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com. The only other six-figure race on the card is the $100,000 California Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. Il Bellator, fourth in the El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles in February and the attractive winner of an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on March 6, is part of a field of six that includes Santa Anita turf stakes winner Cabo Spirit. Avenue de France, the winner of two stakes for fillies and mares at Golden Gate Fields since August, takes a class drop compared to recent starts in graded stakes at Santa Anita in the $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The $75,000 California Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic track will be the stakes debut for all nine entrants. My Kentucky Girl will also start at two turns for the first time after a sharp win in a six-furlong maiden special weight race at Santa Anita in her debut on April 2. The $75,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes at six furlongs on the synthetic track will be the first start of 2022 for Anyportinastorm, a multiple stakes winner who won the 2021 Lost in the Fog Stakes. Anyportinastorm will be in pursuit of expected pacesetter Bettor Trip Nick, who won the El Dorado Stakes at six furlongs for statebreds at Golden Gate Fields in February. The Lost in the Fog Stakes will be the first start of the year in the United States for Strongconstitution, who was sixth in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai on March 26 and makes a relatively rapid turnaround for trainer Doug O’Neill. The $75,000 Camilla Urso Stakes at five furlongs on turf for fillies and mares drew a competitive field of 12, which will be limited to 10 starters. Rebelation, the winner of the Bear Fan Stakes on the synthetic track last November, will be a threat from off the pace, if she can hold off the equally promising Never for Money and catch expected leader Lotsa Pepper.