Itsinthepost, Selcourt eye stakes in Kentucky

ARCADIA, Calif. - The spring seasonal migration of California graded stakes winners to Kentucky is about to begin.

Itsinthepost and Selcourt, the winners of Grade 2 stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, are being strongly considered for stakes at Keeneland and Churchill Downs in coming weeks, their trainers said Sunday.

Itsinthepost won his third consecutive Grade 2 stakes in the $201,380 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf. The win could lead to a start in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes, a $250,000 race at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Keeneland on April 21.

“That’s definitely an option,” trainer Jeff Mullins said.

Itsinthepost has won six graded stakes since the start of 2017, including the San Luis Rey Stakes and Elkhorn Stakes in consecutive starts last year.

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

Owned by Jed Cohen’s Red Barons Barn, Itsinthepost closed from fifth in a field of nine to win the San Luis Rey Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Hayabusa One. Tyler Baze rode Itsinthepost. Mullins said Baze’s decision to position Itsinthepost as a stalker was vital.

“The key was getting him to the outside on the backstretch,” Mullins said.

The next turf marathon stakes at Santa Anita is the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano at about 1 3/4 miles on turf on April 22. Mullins said the $100,000 purse gives the race limited appeal.

Itsinthepost has won 9 of 33 starts and earned $1,095,712. A 6-year-old French-bred gelding, Itsinthepost surpassed seven figures in earnings with the $120,000 winner’s share of the San Luis Rey Stakes.

Selcourt won Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes under Baze for her third consecutive stakes win, all this year.

A 4-year-old filly, Selcourt may have her Grade 1 debut in the $300,000 Humana Distaff for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 5, the day of the Kentucky Derby. Trainer John Sadler said Sunday that he is also considering the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on June 2.

Sadler said there is a possibility Selcourt could start in both stakes.

“I might,” he said. “She’s done a lot and we’re only in the third month of the year. We’re ahead of the curve.”

Selcourt, by Tiz Wonderful, has won 4 of 6 starts and earned $283,920 for a partnership that includes breeder Keith Abrahams along with Sandra Lazaruk and Medallion Racing. The Santa Monica was the most prestigious win of Selcourt’s career. The current winning streak includes the minor Kalookan Queen Stakes in January and the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes on Feb. 18.