Imperative's task doesn't get any easier in San Antonio

ARCADIA, Calif. - Any stakes win by Imperative this winter at Santa Anita will be well-earned.

On Jan. 9, Imperative was a game second to California Chrome in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes. Two weeks later, California Chrome was in Dubai to begin preparation for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26.

Imperative starts in Saturday’s $500,000 San Antonio Stakes. Even without California Chrome in the field, Imperative will not be favored. That role will go to Dortmund, the winner of the 2015 Santa Anita Derby.

“I thought he ran a good race against California Chrome, and now he faces Dortmund,” trainer Richard Baltas said, with a hint of resignation in his voice.

A 6-year-old, Imperative races for Kenji Morinaga, who claimed the gelding for $50,000 at Hollywood Park in December 2013. Imperative has since won once in 18 starts and earned $1,877,950. The win came in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in West Virginia in 2014, a race Baltas has in mind this year, he said on Sunday.

The Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes is run at 1 1/8 miles and is a prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 14.

Imperative worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 on Jan. 27 and has left Baltas satisfied with his recent form, even though he was beaten last time.

“The horse is doing so well,” Baltas said.

The San Antonio has a probable field of seven, including Blingo, Donworth, El Kabeir, Hard Aces, and Hoppertunity.

The San Antonio is the most lucrative of four graded stakes on Saturday’s program.

Songbird, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2015, will have her first start of the year in the $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile. Her rivals include Street Fancy, winner of the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos in December.

Mor Spirit, winner of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 19, will be favored in the $150,000 Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. He will race against Dressed in Hermes and Path of David, stakes winners on turf.

Flamboyant, upset winner of the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes on turf on Jan. 2, is part of the field for the $200,000 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf.