Horses coming off layoffs dominate San Simeon field

The Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita on Saturday could be titled the Comeback Stakes.

Of the seven runners, six will have their first start of 2020, notably Cistron, the winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on dirt at Del Mar last July in his last race. Cistron, trained by John Sadler for Pete and Kosta Hronis, is proven on turf, having finished second in the 2019 San Simeon.

Cistron earned a fees-paid berth for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita last November, but was taken out of training a month before the Breeders’ Cup with a back issue, Sadler said at the time. The $100,000 San Simeon Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs has been a goal in recent weeks.

Monday, Cistron worked a half-mile in 48 seconds under Victor Espinoza, who rode him in the Bing Crosby and has the mount on Saturday.

“He feels like he’s back to normal,” Espinoza said. “I think he’ll come back better than before.”

A 6-year-old horse, Cistron will face a test. Cistron is quick enough to lead, but could face pressure from the 5-year-old mare Surrender Now, who won the 2017 Landaluce Stakes here.

“I don’t think he has to be in front,” Espinoza said of Cistron. “He has the natural speed.”

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Saturday’s field includes Voodoo Song, who won the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at a mile on turf at Saratoga in 2018, and the world traveler Bound for Nowhere, who won two turf stakes in Kentucky in 2018.

Voodoo Song will have his first start in the San Simeon for trainer Richard Mandella. Voodoo Song, a 6-year-old horse previously trained by Linda Rice, was sixth in the Artie Schiller Stakes at Aqueduct last November.

This will be the first start of 2020 for the stakes winners Bound for Nowhere, King of Speed, Sparky Ville, and Surrender Now. Murad Khan, claimed for $50,000 when second on Jan. 24, is the only runner with race experience this year. Murad Khan won an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at 5 1/2 furlongs on Feb. 20, closing from off the pace.

Bound for Nowhere, yet another 6-year-old horse, has not raced since a comprehensive win by 4 1/4 lengths in an allowance race with a $100,000 claiming option at seven furlongs on turf at Belmont Park in October. Owned and trained by Wesley Ward, Bound for Nowhere was 13th in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last June, emerging from the race with a strained muscle.

Ward said on Thursday he considers the San Simeon as the launch of a 2020 campaign geared to have Bound for Nowhere ready for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

Bound for Nowhere is quick enough to set the pace, but also effective as a stalker.

Julio Garcia is booked to ride Bound for Nowhere, a mount he knows well. Garcia has won five of six starts aboard Bound for Nowhere.

Ward said Garcia is likely to adjust to an early race scenario aboard Bound for Nowhere.

“With Julio, he gets him to shut off,” Ward said. “If you put him in the gate, and he wants to go, he’ll go.”