Midcourt leads them all the way in San Pasqual Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Lee Searing’s two favorite sporting passions are basketball and horse racing, which he’s melded quite cleverly over the years. His silks are purple and gold, same as the Lakers, for whom he’s been a long-time season-ticket holder, and he’s given his runners names like Kobe’s Back and Midcourt.

For a Lakers fan, it has been a trying week, what with the death six days ago of Kobe Bryant and eight others, including a daughter. Searing reflected on that Saturday, after Midcourt led from start to finish in the Grade 2, $202,000 San Pasqual Stakes for older runners at Santa Anita.

“I go back 14 years, to Shaq and Kobe,” said Searing, who said Bryant once got a message to him after Kobe’s Back won a race.

“It said ‘Congratulations, you’ve got the right horse,’ ” Searing said. “Just a little note given to a friend to give to me. Just a special person. Never met him. Wish I had.”

Kobe’s Back, a talented sprinter who was his own worst enemy owing to tardy starts, is now at stud in Maryland. Midcourt, a talented router who was his own worst enemy in his prior start – and with his behavior early in his career – has developed into one of the best older horses on this circuit, molded by trainer John Shirreffs, who has now sent him out to wins in five of his last six starts.

In his prior race, the San Antonio here Dec. 28, Midcourt broke poorly and was wide the whole way. He finished third. On Saturday, similar to his victory in the Native Diver at Del Mar in November, Midcourt broke alertly under Victor Espinoza and never looked back going 1 1/8 miles.

“He was very good today,” Shirreffs said. “It was unfortunate in his last one. He was so wide the whole way.”

Midcourt ($6.40) posted fractions of 23.50 seconds for the quarter, 47.31 for a half, and 1:11.26 for six furlongs en route to a final time of 1:48.49 on the fast main track. He beat Two Thirty Five by 3 1/2 lengths. Next stop, the Santa Anita Handicap in five weeks, and a likely rematch with San Antonio winner Gift Box.

Two Thirty Five, a 22-1 shot, was 2 1/4 lengths in front of third-place Combatant. King Abner was fourth, then came, in order, Restrainedvengence, Instagrand, favored Roadster, California Street, and Bold Endeavor.

Midcourt, a 5-year-old by Midnight Lute, is “a handful,” Searing said.

“John has done an amazing job,” Searing said. “He didn’t want to train. Now, it’s lemme at ’em.”

Searing credited Midcourt’s development to the patience of Shirreffs, as well as the decision in November 2018 to geld Midcourt, who had made two starts in 2017 for Peter Eurton before he was moved to Shirreffs. He went 16 months between starts.

In his second start of 2019, Midcourt beat maidens, and he’s been on the improve since. He’s now 5 for 9, and is 3 for 5 at Santa Anita.

“He’s a beautiful horse,” Shirreffs said. “So elegant.”

Like a Kobe fadeaway jumper.