Generosidade (71-1) leads parade of longshots in San Luis Rey

ARCADIA, Calif. – There were strength in numbers for Brazilian steel executive Benjamin Steinbruch’s Haras Phillipson in the San Luis Rey Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita, as Generosidade, the longest shot in the field at 71-1, scored a stunning upset as the stable’s better regarded homebreds, Gaga A and Going Somewhere, failed to fire.

Generosidade ($144.80) was tough to find on form, as she had finished no better than sixth in three prior starts in this country, all against females. In the Grade 2, $201,725 San Luis Rey, she faced males in this country for the first time, but that proved no bother, as she rallied from eighth in the 10-horse field under Tiaga Pereira to win by 1 1/2 lengths while leading a parade of longshots across the wire.

Quick Casablanca, at 10-1, rallied from last to get second, with 30-1 shot Energia Fribby a neck farther back in third, a neck better than 10-1 Highball.

The gimmicks were massive -- $578.20 for the $1 exacta, $6,197 for the $1 trifecta, and $87,409.60 in the $1 superfecta.

In addition, Generosidade knocked out any remaining live tickets in the pick six, leading to a two-day carryover of $548,670 for Thursday’s card.

Power Foot was fifth and was followed, in order, by Gaga A, 2-1 favorite Big John B, Havanna Belle, Southern Freedom, and Going Somewhere.

Paulo Lobo, who trains Generosidade, said he felt the recent rain softened up the turf just enough to benefit his mare.

“She’s 7 years old, has issues. The softer ground helped,” Lobo said.

Generosidade completed 1 1/2 miles on a course rated “good” in 2:28.80. She had raced 1 1/2 miles in her prior start, the Astra Stakes on Jan. 17, when racing for the first time in nearly seven months.

“She’s a marathon horse. We were looking for a mile and a half,” Lobo said. “She had her race in January, and then we pointed for this. She ran huge today.”

Generosidade, by the Rainbow Quest stallion Nedawi, was bred in Uruguay by Haras Phillipson, which breeds horses in Brazil and Argentina, too. After beginning her career in South America, Generosidade raced in France three times in 2014 before moving to Lobo’s care in 2015.

She has now won five times in 17 starts, but her racing career is nearing an end, and she may be bred this year.

“Seven years old. The time is clicking,” Lobo said.

Dressed in Hermes scores as heavy favorite in Pasadena

Earlier Sunday, heavily favored Dressed in Hermes ($2.80) returned to his favorite surface, turf, and returned to his winning ways when capturing the $79,845 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-old grass milers. It’s The Ice was second and Sorryaboutnothing third in the field of six.

Mike Smith rode the winner for Janet Armstrong, who trains Dressed in Hermes, a son of Hat Trick, for the Budget Stable of Syd Belzberg. Dressed in Hermes is a three-time stakes winner. He was fourth in the Robert Lewis on dirt in his prior start.