Foley, Platinum Warrior partner for San Marcos upset

ARCADIA, Calif. – This year, jockey Shane Foley has ridden in California, Dubai, and Ireland. His greatest success to date occurred at Santa Anita on Saturday with an old friend, the 4-year-old colt Platinum Warrior.

Foley, who is based in Ireland, rode Platinum Warrior four times in Ireland in 2017 and 2018, and at Santa Anita last month. The experience proved to be invaluable in the $202,808 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

To reach the winner’s circle, Foley took a somewhat unconventional tactic of urging Platinum Warrior to the front with more than a half-mile remaining. The strategy worked when Platinum Warrior took control by 2 1/2 lengths in early stretch and held off a late threat from 7-2 Epical to win by three-quarters of a length.

Platinum Warrior ($34.40) was timed in 2:02.37 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 97. The San Marcos Stakes was Foley’s first win in the United States.

“I let him show his stamina,” Foley said. “He stays, that’s a good attribute.”

Platinum Warrior skimmed the rail entering the stretch, which is where Foley said he won the race.

“I think I got a couple of lengths turning in,” Foley said.

Epical, the winner of consecutive allowance races with claiming options in November and December, had his best showing in a stakes in the San Marcos. Epical finished a neck in front of Beach View, a 7-1 chance who won the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap on dirt at Del Mar last summer.

Ya Gotta Wanna, a 21-1 chance, finished fourth in the San Marcos, followed by Chicago Style, Dabster, Unapologetic, Sejo, Flamboyant, India Mantuana, Roman Rosso, Prince of Arabia, and Lucky Soul.

Platinum Warrior, who races for Yuesheng Zhang of China, has won 3 of 12 starts and earned $208,290. Foley rode Platinum Warrior to a win in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes in Ireland last May and was later ninth aboard the colt at 25-1 in the Irish Derby.

Platinum Warrior joined trainer John Sadler’s California stable last summer. The San Marcos Stakes was Platinum Warrior’s fourth start for Sadler, preceded by a fifth in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby on Nov. 4, a 10th in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Dec. 1, and a fifth in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes here on Jan. 5.

The 30-year-old Foley, who won the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas last year on Romanised, traveled from overseas to ride Platinum Warrior in the San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.

By Galileo, Platinum Warrior could start on the Dubai World Cup program in the United Arab Emirates on March 30 in a Group 1 race such as the Dubai Turf at 1 1/8 miles or the Sheema Classic at 1 1/2 miles.

For Foley, a trip to Dubai would be quicker from his base in Ireland.

“That would be easier,” he said.