It took nine attempts before Dicey Mo Chara won his first stakes in Monday’s Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes on turf at Santa Anita, a victory that could lead to a start in Florida next month. As the winner of the $201,000 San Gabriel Stakes, Dicey Mo Chara received a fees-paid berth to the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28. “It’s a free run in a $1 million race,” trainer Leonard Powell said. Powell said the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Feb. 5 is another consideration for the 4-year-old Dicey Mo Chara, who races for Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal. In the San Gabriel, Dicey Mo Chara ($9.60) closed from fifth in a field of seven to finish a half-length in front of 21-1 Flashiest, also trained by Powell. The San Gabriel is the first time Powell has swept the exacta in a stakes. “It’s very rare I run two horses in a graded stakes,” he said. Powell said Dicey Mo Chara benefited when 6-5 favorite Masteroffoxhounds took the lead in early stretch before fading to finish third. :: Get Santa Anita Clocker Reports straight from the morning workouts at the track. Available every race day.  “I got a bit lucky that Masteroffoxhounds made an early move and that helped the closers,” he said. Last February, Dicey Mo Chara won an allowance race but he was beaten in his next seven starts, including a second by a neck in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship in October when he closed well. The San Gabriel was the best race for Flashiest in a stakes since a second in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in September 2021. In the San Gabriel and Del Mar Derby, Flashiest started from the outside post. “Flashiest ran an excellent race,” Powell said. “He’s a hard horse to ride. It’s a matter of getting a good trip. “He’s very shy inside of horses. He needs to run outside.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and