Causeforcommotion taking on males in San Juan Capistrano

ARCADIA, Calif. – La Zanzara was the last filly or mare to win the San Juan Capistrano Stakes, run at about 1 3/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita, way back in 1975. On Sunday, the 5-year-old mare Causeforcommotion can join the exclusive list when she starts in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano in her first start against males.

Trained by Eric Kruljac, Causeforcommotion won the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf May 11 by nine lengths. She was eighth in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf May 27, but Kruljac thinks a return to a marathon distance can help Causeforcommotion.

“If she runs her Santa Barbara race, she’ll be tough to beat,” he said. “Physically, I think she is up to it.”

A winner of 4 of 17 starts, Causeforcommotion is the only 2019 stakes winner in a field of eight. Mongolian Groom is switching surfaces after finishing third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on April 6 and fourth in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita in two of his last three starts. Ya Gotta Wanna was second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf last summer and sixth, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles May 25.

KEY CONTENDERS

Causeforcommotion, by Americain
Last 3 Beyers: 83-94-81

◗ Kruljac said the Grade 1 competition in the Gamely was too strong for Causeforcommotion, who finished 5 3/4 lengths behind Vasilika after racing as close as third on the turn under jockey Geovanni Franco.

“According to Geovanni, she made her move,” Kruljac said. “I thought we had a chance to catch the two front-runners. Vasilika blew by her, and she dropped the bit. It was one of these mental things: ‘Hell, I’m not that good.’

“She wasn’t that knocked out by the Gamely at all. You respect the competition, but there are no Vasilikas in this field.”

Ya Gotta Wanna, by Proud Citizen
Last 3 Beyers: 92-85-93

◗ Ya Gotta Wanna was beaten a head and two noses for third in the Charles Whittingham Stakes. Though winless in 10 starts since May 2018, Ya Gotta Wanna has been competitive in longer races on turf.

“He’s the class of the race,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “He’s held the best company. I thought he ran really well last time, and he galloped out with the winner. You would think on those things he would qualify as one of the main contenders.”

◗ D’Amato has two other runners in the field – Acclimate, who will race near the front, and Red King, who was fourth in the Grade 3 All American Stakes on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields on May 27.

◗ Acclimate, by Acclamation, won a starter allowance at 1 1/8 miles on turf May 31.

“We’re taking a shot,” D’Amato said. “Pedigree-wise, it looks like he can run long.”