ARCADIA, Calif. - Katonah was last of seven when the field reached the finish line for the first time in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita. It was an ideal place to be. With Midnight Mammoth, Imagination, and Tarantino contributing to a quick pace, jockey Tiago Pereira was content to wait at the back of the field with Katonah. The patient ride led to a win in the $201,000 race for older horses at 1 1/8 miles for Katonah ($13.40). Katonah closed steadily on the turn and in early stretch to be fourth with a furlong remaining. The continued rally led to a two-length win by Katonah, his first victory since the $150,000 Pleasanton Mile in Northern California in July 2023. Pereira rode Katonah to that stakes win, and in six other races in 2023 and 2024. He knew the 6-year-old gelding was capable of a late rally. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports “The horse gave me confidence,” Pereira said.   The race was not without mishap. Dont Fight the Fed (45-1) sustained a severe injury on the turn, unseating jockey Mario Gutierrez, who was taken to a hospital for observation, according to track stewards. Dont Fight the Fed, who was second and third in two stakes for statebreds at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos in 2024, was euthanized, according to an official. Katonah was timed in 1:51.36 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93. As the race began, Midnight Mammoth, Tarantino and Imagination dueled through an opening quarter-mile in 22.10 seconds, quick for a race at the distance. The trio were separated by less than a length after a half-mile in 45.84 seconds, also a fast time. Express Train (6-1) was fourth on the backstretch and moved wide to reach a contending position. Express Train led narrowly in the stretch, but could not hold off Katonah’s wide rally and finished second. Express Train finished three-quarters of a length in front of 7-2 Tarantino. Imagination, the 7-10 favorite, finished fourth, followed by American Admiral and Midnight Mammoth. Imagination, trained by Bob Baffert, was third by a length in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. Last spring, Imagination was second by a head in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Katonah, a 6-year-old gelding by Klimt, races for Ron Arakelian 3d’s R3 Racing and trainer Doug O’Neill. Katonah has won 5 of 17 starts and earned $481,180. In 2024, Katonah was winless in five starts, including a second in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar in July in his first start of the year. Earlier this winter, Katonah was sixth of eight as the 3-2 favorite after a wide trip in the Grade 2 Laffit Pincay Jr., Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. Baffert prospect wins maiden race Earlier on the program, the promising 3-year-old colt San Saba won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs in his second start. Ridden by Edwin Maldonado for trainer Bob Baffert, San Saba ($4.40) disputed the pace throughout and won by a half-length over 16-1 Modus Bestia, a first-time starter purchased for $500,000 as a yearling in 2023. San Saba was timed in 1:17.35 after fractions of 21.57 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.14 for a half-mile. San Saba, bought for $725,000 as a yearling, was third in his debut in a maiden race at six furlongs on Dec. 26. By Justify, San Saba races for Grier Brunson and Zane Kiehne. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.