Itsinthepost prevails in San Luis Rey Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - The rankings among California’s turf marathon division have become clear in the recent months. Itsinthepost is slightly better than Hayabusa One.

The two veterans were a nose apart in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Feb. 3. Saturday, the margin was slightly more definitive in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes. Itsinthepost prevailed by three-quarters of a length in the $201,380 race at 1 1/2 miles on turf.

Itsinthepost ($4.20) raced closer to the pace than Hayabusa One and held off his rival in the final strides after leading by two lengths with a furlong remaining.

Winning jockey Tyler Baze, who swept the two Grade 2 stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, expected a threat from Hayabusa One and jockey Victor Espinoza in the final half-mile and adjusted his tactics accordingly.

“I waited longer to push the button,” he said. “I waited for Victor to come up to me.”

Both riders had their mounts well positioned in the first six furlongs. The race was run on the oval portion of the turf course and did not start on the hillside, which is customary for races at that distance. Recent rain led track officials to move the race to the oval. The turf course was rated good from the rain.

Aquaphobia, an 11-1 outsider, led for much of the first 1 1/4 miles and was challenged by Colonist and Itsinthepost entering the stretch. At that point, Baze had Itsinthepost where he hoped to be. Baze said he intended to keep Itsinthepost near the front and racing on the outside after talking strategy with trainer Jeff Mullins.

“He doesn’t give instructions, but with this horse he said see if you can get a stalking trip on the outside,” Baze said of their pre-race conversation.

Espinoza had Hayabusa One in sixth place early, and then fifth through the first mile.

“I had a good trip,” Espinoza said. “I saved ground the first two turns. At the half-mile pole, I wanted to find my way through them. I followed the favorite. He’s a good horse.”

Espinoza thought Hayabusa One could catch Itsinthepost - until the leader pulled away in early stretch.

“When Tyler let him run, he opened up two or three lengths and we couldn’t keep up with that,” Espinoza said.

When the margin began to diminish in the last furlong, Baze moved Itsinthepost slightly out to allow the 6-year-old French-bred gelding to better see his rival.

“I wanted him to feel the horse," Baze said. “There aren’t many that have the will to win and he’s one of those horses.”

Responsibleforlove, the lone mare in the field, finished third at 17-1, closing from seventh. Colonist faded to finish fourth, followed by Rye, Aquaphobia, Play Hard to Get, Oscar Dominguez, and Saltini.

Itsinthepost was timed in 2:27.73. He earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103.

Itsinthepost, owned by Jed Cohen’s Red Baron’s Farm, has won 9 of 33 starts and earned $1,095,712. He surpassed seven figures in earnings with the $120,000 winner’s share of the San Luis Rey Stakes.

Itsinthepost has won six Grade 2 stakes since the start of 2017, the best span of his career. He was seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar last November against many of the world’s best turf runners, but has otherwise been the leader of the California division.