Ax Man could give Baffert third consecutive San Carlos win

ARCADIA, Calif. – Although three of the seven entrants in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes are trained by the same guy, Bob Baffert is no cinch to win the seven-furlong sprint for a third straight year Saturday at Santa Anita.

Ax Man, decisive allowance winner last out, is the 5-2 favorite in the San Carlos and the best chance for Baffert. Ax Man faces a handful of durable geldings – 8-year-old Solid Wager, 7-year-old St. Joe Bay, and 6-year-old Touching Rainbows.

The $200,000 San Carlos is race 6, and includes graded stakes winner Kanthaka, along with Baffert trainees Dr. Dorr and Zatter.

If he runs two alike, and puts away his only apparent pace rival, Ax Man will be tough. St. Joe Bay will keep Ax Man honest, and his trainer, John Sadler, expects St. Joe Bay to produce a better effort than last time, when fifth in a six-furlong Grade 2 won by Roy H.

“He just got the wrong setup,” Sadler said. “He couldn’t make the lead, he got pressed, and he’s never been able to beat Roy H.”

St. Joe Bay drew outside Ax Man, and could have a tactical edge pressing an easier pace than last time. If the front-runners duel, the race could unfold in favor of closers Solid Wager, Touching Rainbows, or Kanthaka.

The 2019 San Carlos was originally scheduled for March 9, rescheduled to March 23, then rescheduled again for Saturday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ax Man, by Misremembered

Last 3 Beyers: 97-88-78

◗ Ax Man became a gelding last summer, and he was a race from top form when he finished 12th in his Dec. 26 comeback. In his second start back, he sped to the lead, took heat, and won clear over next-out stakes winner Edwards Going Left.

◗ Ax Man’s jockey is Drayden Van Dyke. Baffert won the San Carlos the past two years with American Anthem and Danzing Candy.

St. Joe Bay, by Saint Anddan

Last 3 Beyers: 89-99-91

◗ Victor Espinoza rides St. Joe Bay, runner-up in the 2018 San Carlos.

Touching Rainbows, by Aragorn
Last 3 Beyers: 97-82-87

◗He returned to form with a sharp victory over California-breds last out, his fifth win from eight starts at Santa Anita.

“He likes a surface he can skip over; he likes Santa Anita,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “He’s been training really well.”

◗ Touching Rainbows finished 3 1/2 lengths in front of Edwards Going Left last out. By comparison, Ax Man defeated Edwards Going Left last out by 1 1/4 lengths.

Solid Wager, by Birdonthewire
Last 3 Beyers: 97-98-97

◗ Peter Miller trains Solid Wager, an 11-for-50 pro returning home after two sharp efforts at Aqueduct. He won the Grade 3 Toboggan, and finished second in a highly rated allowance last out.

Kanthaka, by Jimmy Creed
Last 3 Beyers: 101-92-89

◗ Runner-up to Roy H last time out at six furlongs, Kanthaka stretches to his preferred seven-furlong trip. He is 3 for 4 at seven furlongs. Jerry Hollendorfer trains Kanthaka.