Dicey Mo Chara capable of winning right back with right trip in San Marcos

Dicey Mo Chara started in eight stakes without winning before he edged his way to the front for good in the final strides of the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. With the stakes drought over, Dicey Mo Chara has his 2023 debut against a familiar cast of rivals in Sunday’s Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita.

The recent win has trainer Leonard Powell bullish that Dicey Mo Chara can succeed again.

“He’s as good if not better than before,” Powell said.

Powell cited Dicey Mo Chara’s “level of energy and appearance” in recent weeks as factors in his confidence. At the same time, Powell acknowledges that Dicey Mo Chara needs a favorable journey from off the pace in a field of 10 to win the $200,000 San Marcos Stakes. Dicey Mo Chara was part of a field of seven in the San Gabriel.

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“This is a bigger field,” Powell said. “Maybe we can get the same trip as last time, maybe mid-pack and make a run.”

Juan Hernandez, the leading rider at the winter-spring meeting, rides Dicey Mo Chara. Hernandez was aboard the 5-year-old British-bred gelding for the first time in the San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. The slightly longer San Marcos may be a better fit for Dicey Mo Chara, who races for Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal.

“He can do anything from a mile and an eighth to a mile and a half,” Powell said.

Several of Dicey Mo Chara’s rivals have the same versatility regarding distances.

Dicey Mo Chara is one of six graded stakes winners in the field, three of which are trained by Phil D’Amato – Masteroffoxhounds, Prince Abama, and Say the Word. D’Amato also starts the stakes-placed Cash Equity.

Masteroffoxhounds and Prince Abama were third and fourth behind Dicey Mo Chara in the San Gabriel. Masteroffoxhounds stalked the early pace, led in the stretch and was beaten 1 1/2 lengths.

“He got slammed at the start and put in a place he didn’t want to be in,” D’Amato said. “That day the turf course was spongy with the rain we had gotten. I think we’ll get a faster turf course. I think he likes to hear his feet rattle.

“I think this distance suits him well.”

Masteroffoxhounds won the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles from the front at Santa Anita in October.

Prince Abama, who won the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 25, was beaten 2 1/2 lengths in the San Gabriel after racing in traffic at a pivotal point in the stretch under Flavien Prat. “Flavien got off Prince Abama and said he didn’t have a good trip,” D’Amato said. “I couldn’t disagree. He started and stopped a couple of times. He couldn’t stretch his legs.”

Say the Word has not raced since a third in the 2022 San Marcos.

“I expect him to be running late,” D’Amato said.

The San Marcos is the sixth race on a 10-race program that includes a mandatory payout in the 20-cent Rainbow pick six.

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