Barraza notches fourth consecutive win with San Simeon Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - With his mount clear of seven rivals, jockey Daisuke Fukumoto took a moment to commemorate his win on Barraza in Sunday’s Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes at Santa Anita. When Barraza reached the wire, Fukumoto raised his right arm in celebration.

“It looked like an easy win, so I had time,” Fukumoto said.

Fukumoto’s win on Barraza was unexpected. He gained the mount on Barraza after John Velazquez took off his rides on Sunday and Monday to attend a family funeral in New York.

Fukumoto, who rode at Woodbine last year and has been based at Santa Anita in recent weeks, was given the opportunity on Barraza after developing a partnership with trainer Vladimir Cerin this winter. Fukumoto traveled to Turf Paradise earlier this month to ride Norma Jean B to a win in the Glendale Stakes for Cerin.

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Barraza won his second stakes of the winter, and fourth consecutive start, in the $101,500 San Simeon Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. Barraza won the restricted Clocker’s Corner Stakes from the front on Jan. 22 when ridden by Kent Desormeaux. Desormeaux is currently banned from riding at Santa Anita by track management following an arrest on domestic abuse charges in Louisiana in January.

In the San Simeon, Fukumoto had Barraza last through the opening quarter-mile on the hillside. Barraza closed steadily on the leaders while racing wide and was in the middle of the track when the field crossed over the dirt track and onto the main turf oval.

Fukumoto had Barraza farther outside than expected.

“I didn’t expect the corner when everyone split” apart, he said. “I trusted the horse.”

Barraza was third with a furlong remaining and won by 2 3/4 lengths over 20-1 Indian Peak, finishing in 1:12.66. Beer Can Man, the 3-2 favorite, was second early, but faded to finish third, 3 1/4 lengths behind the winner.

Barraza earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

Bombard set an early pace of 22.89 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, and faded to finish fourth. Bran, Chaos Theory, Commander, and Guildsman completed the order of finish.

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Barraza was Fukumoto’s first win on the hillside turf course.

Barraza was claimed for $100,000 from a maiden race last April by current owners David and Holly Wilson. A 4-year-old colt by Into Mischief, Barraza has won 5 of 13 starts and earned $257,700.

Fukumoto said he plans to remain at Santa Anita in coming weeks, but is likely to return to Woodbine this spring.

“Santa Anita is a tough place,” Fukumoto said. “It’s a dream come true to win a big race here. Hopefully, I can get more horses.”