Balladeer looks like the lone speed in San Juan Capistrano
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Nothing symbolizes closing day at Santa Anita like the historic San Juan Capistrano Stakes, and no race scenario is more effective than lone speed.
The circumstances Sunday benefit front-runner Balladeer, who figures to be loose on the lead in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano, a 1 3/4-mile turf marathon that is the traditional closing day feature at Santa Anita. Los Alamitos daytime racing begins June 20.
A modest field entered the San Juan including potential favorite Divin Propos and Balladeer. The mare Mrs. Astor is cross-entered in a stakes on Saturday; Time Song and Maltese Falcon are recent claim acquisitions; California-bred stakes winner Santa Barbarian is the first 3-year-old this century to run in the San Juan Capistrano. Nitti and For Arrogate are also entered.
Balladeer is the only front-runner in the San Juan, stretching out from a creditable fourth in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham at 1 1/4 miles. Balladeer makes his third start following a layoff in the San Juan Capistrano. The main challenge is the added distance.
“I don’t think it should be any problem,” trainer George Papaprodromou said. “The main thing with him is to get a nice, easy comfortable lead. I don’t think the distance will be an issue.”
Three of the last six San Juan Capistrano winners led gate to wire. Papaprodromou said he took blinkers off Balladeer “to slow him down a little bit.”
Kent Desormeaux rides Balladeer, who wired the Grade 2 John Henry Championship in 2023 at Santa Anita. Balladeer has won four races and $468,290 from 24 starts.
Divin Propos would give trainer Phil D’Amato his fourth win in this race in seven years, and jockey Ricky Gonzalez his first stakes victory since 2022. Divin Propos, runner-up in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes two starts back at Santa Anita, meets easier than last month, when he finished fourth in the Grade 3 Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico.
The status of Mrs. Astor is pending. Runaway winner of a filly-mare turf marathon last month, Mrs. Astor is the program favorite Saturday against fillies and mares in the Possibly Perfect. Umberto Rispoli is named to ride Mrs. Astor in either race trainer Jonathan Thomas chooses.
Thomas also entered the maiden filly For Arrogate and claiming-caliber gelding Time Song in the San Juan Capistrano. Although not all in the field are confirmed runners, the lone 3-year-old is a go. Ryan Hanson trains Santa Barbarian, upset winner of the Snow Chief Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds last out. It’s a big jump from statebred 3-year-olds to older graded stakes.
“It’s not that crazy if he can get the distance,” Hanson noted, and Santa Barbarian has recently outrun expectations. He is 2 for 2 since returning to grass, a $29.80 maiden win and $89.20 upset in the Snow Chief. Santa Barbarian is facing older winners for the first time in a stakes that 3-year-olds do not typically contest.
“It’s a big leap, especially in June,” Hanson acknowledged, “But he’s doing good, so what do we have to lose?” Kazushi Kimura rides Santa Barbarian.
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