Santa Anita: Tres Borrachos, near $1M mark, dropping for a win

Benoit & Associates

If Tres Borrachos runs first or second in Friday’s second race at Santa Anita, he will surpass $1 million in career earnings.

ARCADIA, Calif. – After starting in stakes in 13 of his last 14 starts, an allowance race at Santa Anita on Friday may be what the veteran gelding Tres Borrachos needs to end a lengthy losing streak and reach a career milestone.

Tres Borrachos has not won in 13 starts, since the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar in July 2011. If he runs first or second in Friday’s second race at Santa Anita, he will surpass $1 million in career earnings.

“He deserves it,” trainer Marty Jones said.

Owned by George Hicker and Button Stable, Tres Borrachos, 8, was fourth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 6, finishing 6 1/2 lengths behind race winner Coil, who was later retired to stud.

Jones was encouraged that Tres Borrachos was closing at the wire, finishing a head behind third-place finisher John Scott, a nominee for the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 6.

“He couldn’t quite get John Scott at the wire,” Jones said.

“He’s run in some tough races. He needs to bring his A game. His last three races have been good. He went off his form for a little while when we shipped him around.”

Tres Borrachos was seventh in the Charles Town Classic in West Virginia in April. He was winless in eight starts last year, but finished the year with second-place finishes in the Big Bear Handicap at Santa Anita and an allowance race at Betfair Hollywood Park.

“He’s getting a little older, and he doesn’t seem to have lost his spirit,” Jones said. “He seems to enjoy it.”

Garrett Gomez ride Tres Borrachos, who starts from the rail in a field of five. The drop in class will attract bettors to Tres Borrachos.

There will also be support for Sky Kingdom, who won an optional claimer on a wet-fast track on Jan. 24 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Gallant Fields makes his California debut on Friday. Previously trained by the suspended Richard Dutrow Jr., Gallant Fields is trained by John Sadler for Jose Singer. Gallant Fields won an optional claimer at Aqueduct on Dec. 31, then made a quick return to finish second in a similar race on Jan. 4.

Sadler said that Gallant Fields is needed in California’s thin older-horse division.

“We lack handicap horses,” Sadler said. “I think he’ll be a good fit.”