Itsinthepost seeks third Grade 2 win of year in San Luis Rey

ARCADIA, Calif. – Itsinthepost has been in peak form in recent months, with consecutive graded stakes wins for the first time in his 32-race career.

“He’s a solid horse,” trainer Jeff Mullins said.

Grade 2 wins in the San Gabriel Stakes in January and the San Marcos Stakes on Feb. 3 have left Itsinthepost at the fore of California’s turf-distance division and the favorite for another Grade 2 – Saturday’s $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita.

The San Luis Rey Stakes will be Itsinthepost’s first start at the distance since a seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar last November.

Itsinthepost is part of a field of 10 that includes Hayabusa One, who was second by a nose in the San Marcos Stakes, and Rye, making his first start in a graded stakes after winning the California Cup Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles for statebreds on Jan. 27.

Four runners in the San Luis Rey field won optional claimers on turf earlier this year and are trying to win a first graded stakes – Aquaphobia, Colonist, Play Hard to Get, and Saltini.

The San Luis Rey will be the first start since October for Frank Conversation, a graded stakes winner who was second in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf last May, and the first start against males for the 5-year-old mare Responsibleforlove, a minor stakes winner at Del Mar last August.

KEY CONTENDERS

Itsinthepost, by American Post
Last 3 Beyers: 102-99-100

◗ Owned by Jed Cohen’s Red Baron’s Barn, Itsinthepost has won three of his last four starts. Prior to the loss in the BC Turf, Itsinthepost won the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles here last October.

◗ Itsinthepost, a 6-year-old French-bred gelding, won two races at 1 1/2 miles on turf last spring – the San Luis Rey Stakes and the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes on yielding turf at Keeneland last April.

The Elkhorn may have been 11 months ago, but the race has relevancy for the San Luis Rey after significant rain fell at Santa Anita on Wednesday and Thursday. The turf course may not be firm on Saturday.

Hayabusa One, by Siyouni
Last 3 Beyers: 101-91-88

◗ Hayabusa One, trained by Peter Miller, stormed from fifth to just miss catching Itsinthepost in the San Marcos at 1 1/4 miles. The added distance of Saturday’s race will be an asset to him, according to jockey Victor Espinoza.

“I think the distance should not be a problem,” Espinoza said. “Last time, in a couple of more jumps he could have gotten the job done.”

Espinoza was left frustrated by the loss in the San Marcos. He lost his whip in the final sixteenth.

“It’s one of those things,” he said. “Who knows if he would have won? In reality, he might not. After the fact, you think maybe I could have tapped him one more time and he would have won the race.”