Forbidden Kingdom will show the way in San Carlos

There is no compromise regarding race tactics for the 4-year-old Forbidden Kingdom. All trials in morning workouts have failed.

“We’ve tried to rate him, and he doesn’t like it,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “We tried to school him behind horses. He didn’t appreciate it.”

Forbidden Kingdom will be on the lead in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

“If they want to chase him, they’ll have to go fast to do it,” Mandella said.

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Forbidden Kingdom won two Grade 2 races for 3-year-olds in early 2022 from the front – the San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs and the San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

Owned by the My Racehorse syndicate and Spendthrift Farm, Forbidden Kingdom is winless in four starts in the last 11 months, a span that includes disruptions caused by an illness and a minor injury.

In his only start this winter, Forbidden Kingdom led to early stretch and was second by 4 1/4 lengths to the heavily favored Taiba in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs on Dec. 26.

Forbidden Kingdom’s losing streak weighs on Mandella’s mind.

“We’re trying to fix it,” he said. “He’s in good shape. I expect him to run a good race.”

In the $200,000 San Carlos, Forbidden Kingdom will start from post 2 in a field of six. He figures to be closely tracked by the 5-year-old Spirit of Makena, who will have his stakes debut in the San Carlos.

Spirit of Makena led throughout a six-furlong allowance race Feb. 11 to win his first start since September and for the second time in his three-race career. Trainer George Papaprodromou said Thursday that Spirit of Makena will not be sent to the front.

“There is a lot of speed,” he said. “Our horse is fast, too. We’ll try to sit a little bit off the pace. It depends on how he comes out.”

Get Her Number will be helped by any sort of hot pace. Trained by Peter Miller, Get Her Number was a game second in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile around one turn at Aqueduct in December, but ninth of 12 in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park in his lone start this year.

Trainer Mark Glatt has two entrants – Holden the Lute and Howbeit.

Holden the Lute won a seven-furlong allowance race by 3 1/2 lengths at even-money on Feb. 19 for his sixth win in his 29th start. Holden the Lute disputed the early pace on Feb. 19, his first start in a sprint since October 2021.

“It’s a bit quick back off such a strong effort, although he did win pretty easily,” Glatt said. “Shortening up really gave the horse a spark.”

Howbeit, who runs from off the pace, won the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs in October. He is entered in Saturday’s Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise, but Glatt said Thursday that Howbeit is likely to stay at Santa Anita.

“I’m trying to find the spot where he can get his trip,” Glatt said. “I think it sets up well for him.”

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