North County Guy streaks into Crystal Water Stakes

Claimed for $20,000 in August 2018, North County Guy was supplemented to the Golden State series of California-bred stakes for $25,000 in January. The hefty fee made North County Guy eligible to the series for the rest of his career, and had an immediate payoff when the 6-year-old gelding won the $201,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita on Jan. 16, earning $110,000.

The win was an excellent start to the year for North County Guy, who followed that race with a win in an allowance race at a mile on turf against open company on March 7. He’ll try to make it three straight wins in Saturday’s $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for statebreds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

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The Crystal Water is the first race on an 11-race program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. North County Guy drew the rail and will be favored to win his fourth consecutive start at Santa Anita. Last October, North County Guy won an allowance race against open company at Santa Anita before finishing 10th of 12 in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar last November.

“He seems to be getting really good,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “He’s always stayed really sound and he’s a happy horse.”

Owned by Nancy Messineo and Bruce Sands, North County Guy is based at San Luis Rey Downs in San Diego County, a training center that is a better fit than stabling at the racetrack for the gelding, Baltas said.

“When I got him, he was kind of a stall walker,” Baltas said. “I think he likes the quiet atmosphere. He has a goat. He’s one of those horses.”

North County Guy will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez, the gelding’s regular rider since last summer. Gutierrez is likely to have North County Guy in a forward position in the first half of the race, perhaps stalking Acclimate, who was third in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic. Acclimate was later second in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Feb. 6 and fourth in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on March 20.

The Crystal Water Stakes is Acclimate’s first start going as short as a mile since a third in a starter allowance at Santa Anita in May 2019. Later that year, Acclimate was ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

The Crystal Water drew only five runners, including Brandothebartender and Desmond Dess, who were first and third in the Sensational Star Stakes for statebreds at six furlongs on turf in March, and Irish Heatwave, who was claimed for $25,000 in January by trainer Peter Miller.

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Desmond Doss was beaten 1 1/2 lengths in the Sensational Star after racing in traffic in early stretch. Trained by Steve Miyadi, Desmond Doss will be the first career stakes mount for apprentice Emily Ellingwood, who has won six races at the winter-spring meeting.

Brandothebartender, 8, ended a four-race losing streak in the Sensational Star. Trained by Craig Dollase, Brandothebartender closed from sixth of seven with a wide rally in the Sensational Star to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Brandothebartender, the mount of Umberto Rispoli, breaks from the outside.

“He’s got that will and desire to want to win,” Dollase said. “I think we’ll get a good trip from the outside.”