Dozen expected for San Luis Rey

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita may be in the midst of a revival.

Saturday’s $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf had 12 expected starters on Wednesday, a change from earlier in this decade, when the race drew fields of five in 2012 and 2014 and six in 2011.

Saturday’s race is expected to be led by Ashleyluvssugar, who won the 2015 running; Texas Ryano, who won the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup in December but was sixth in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes here in February; and Itsinthepost and Flamboyant, who were second and third in the San Marcos.

Other expected runners are Buster Douglas, Inordinate, Liam the Charmer, Papacoolpapacool, Power Foot, Some in Tieme, Site Read, and Syntax.

If all 12 start, the San Luis Rey Stakes will have its biggest field since the same number ran in 1998. The 2016 race had 10 runners and was won by the outsider Generosidade.