Santa Anita: Mullins aims high with Temple's Door in San Marcos

Trainer Jeff Mullins, whose horse Wilkinson finished second in Saturday's Arcadia Stakes at Santa Anita, has another contender for a turf stakes when Temple’s Door starts in Saturday’s $150,000 San Marcos Stakes over 1 1/4 miles.

“There is no option for him so you have to go,” Mullins said.

Owned by Ingrid Truman, Temple’s Door has yet to win a stakes, but was a decent second to Jeranimo in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf on Jan. 13. In that race, Temple’s Door was third early, stalked the pace and was beaten 2 3/4 lengths as a 20-1 outsider under jockey Tyler Baze.

“His thing is he needs to get out and get a good position,” Mullins said. “He’s been falling out of the gate and getting in trouble. Last time, Tyler was able to get him out and get him into the race.”

Temple’s Door, 5, has won 3 of 11 starts and $152,296.

The San Marcos is led by the McAnally-trained Interaction, who was second in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup over 1 1/2 miles at Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 15.

Other expected starters are Bridge of Gold, Dreamcatcher, Juniper Pass, Richard’s Kid, Slim Shadey, and Smart Ellis.