Garcia caps off big weekend in Hernandez

Jockey Martin Garcia described his accomplishments at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday as the greatest weekend "in my life."

"It was amazing."

He was primarily talking about winning the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap aboard Misremembered on Saturday. His win aboard Sangaree in Sunday's $60,350 Joe Hernandez Stakes was a bonus.

Sangaree ($10.20) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.28, holding off a threat from Gallant Son to win his first stakes. Owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable and trained by Bob Baffert, Sangaree is a 5-year-old horse by Awesome Again.

Making his second start after a layoff of nearly five months, Sangaree won by a half-length, closing from fifth in a field of seven. The race was intended to be run on turf, but overnight rain forced it to the main track.

Sangaree was third in an optional claimer over 5 1/2 furlongs in his comeback on Dec. 31. In Sunday's race, Garcia kept Sangaree in fifth for the first half-mile, well behind Machismo, who set a brisk pace of 21.78 and 44.08 seconds. Sangaree moved to fourth with a four-wide move in the stretch and took the lead in the final sixteenth.

"The last time he needed the race," Garcia said. "It was a shorter distance. Bob said place him where he's comfortable and make one run."

Sangaree has won 4 of 12 starts and $164,110. The Hernandez was his second stakes appearance. He was fifth in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar last summer.