Extra Hope earns shot at San Felipe Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Extra Hope is likely to start in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds on March 9 after winning his 2019 debut in an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option at a mile on Thursday at Santa Anita.

The $500,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles will be a formidable test for Extra Hope. Game Winner, the undefeated champion 2-year-old male of 2018, is a candidate for the same race.

Extra Hope, trained by Richard Mandella for Samantha Siegel, won for the second time in his seven-race career in Thursday’s seventh race. Ridden by Flavien Prat on a sealed and sloppy track, Extra Hope fought for the early lead with Gray Magician, took control on the turn, and pulled clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths over Kingly, the 8-5 favorite. Extra Hope ($8.20) was timed in 1:34.74 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 86.

“He looked good cooling out,” Mandella said Friday.

“I think he is improving. Little by little, he’s growing up and getting better. I was not surprised he won. He’d trained really well.”

Extra Hope, by Shanghai Bobby, was bred by Siegel. The colt ran in two graded stakes last fall, finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs on Nov. 17 at Del Mar and third in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 8.

A gap of a little more than five weeks to the San Felipe has appeal, Mandella said.

“The first guess would be the San Felipe,” he said. “We’ll nominate to a lot of different things.”

The optional claimer was the first start around two turns for Kingly and Big Scott Daddy, who finished third.

Big Scott Daddy won his debut in a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs on Dec. 26. Trainer Mike Puype said Friday that Big Scott Daddy may have been compromised by the sloppy and sealed track, which he said played friendly to horses racing near the front.

“I’m not making any excuses, that’s the truth,” he said. “What are you going to do?

“We’ll work him a few times in blinkers and see where we go. He’ll race in them next time.”