Bob and Jackie targets elusive graded win in Thunder Road

In each of the last three seasons, Bob and Jackie has won at least one minor turf stakes in Southern California.

Bob and Jackie won the Eddie Logan Stakes for 2-year-olds in 2018, the restricted Let It Ride Stakes at Del Mar in November 2019, and the restricted Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar last July.

Now 5, Bob and Jackie could have a breakthrough in a graded stakes this year, potentially in Saturday’s Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Trained by Richard Baltas, Bob and Jackie has been second and third in his last two starts, both in graded stakes – a third at 24-1 in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita in October and a second at 5-1 in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 2.

“That’s his distance,” Baltas said. “He’s a mile to a mile-and-an-eighth horse.”

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Bob and Jackie set a solid pace in the San Gabriel before losing by 2 1/4 lengths to Anothertwistafate. In the $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes, Baltas does not envision Bob and Jackie setting the pace under jockey Heriberto Figueroa.

“He went a little quick” in the San Gabriel, Baltas said. “We might try a different strategy this time.”

Bob and Jackie is owned by Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran, having been acquired in November for $190,000 from the bankruptcy dispersal of Zayat Stables. Bob and Jackie earned $40,000 for the second in the San Gabriel.

Saturday, there are four stakes at Santa Anita on a program that includes a mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow pick six. Track officials expect the pick six pool to near $5 million, provided the bet is not hit Friday. The Rainbow pick six has a carryover of $843,235 into Friday.

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The other stakes on Saturday’s card are the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile, and the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes for older horses at 1 1/4 miles.

The $200,000 San Marcos Stakes was postponed from Jan. 30 to Saturday because of considerable rain on Jan. 28-29. Baltas plans to start Masteroffoxhounds and Oscar Dominguez in the San Marcos. Oscar Dominguez, who won the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar in 2019, was third in the 2020 San Marcos.

Friday, Baltas starts Commander Khai and Gator Shining in the $75,000 Baffle Stakes for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf.

On Jan. 30, Idol, trained by Baltas, finished third as the even-money favorite in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes for older horses at 1 1/8 miles. Idol will have his Grade 1 debut in the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 6, but will not be ridden by Gabriel Saez, who was aboard for the San Pasqual.

“They’ll be a new jockey,” Baltas said Wednesday.

Saez had Idol last in a field of five, racing between horses with more than a half-mile remaining before launching a wide rally. Idol finished 3 1/2 lengths behind race winner Express Train.

Saez was fined $500 by Santa Anita stewards for using his whip more than the allowed six times in a race.