San Antonio runners all have something to prove

The Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Tuesday at Santa Anita might as well be named the Something to Prove Stakes.

All six runners have sufficient credentials to win the $200,000 race at 1 1/16 miles, but must demonstrate they can either overcome recent losses, a transfer to a new continent, a distance change, or a severe class test.

The multiple stakes winners Brickyard Ride, Newgrange, and Stilleto Boy can win with their best efforts. They were beaten in their last starts.

Subsanador was a multiple Group 1 winner in Argentina in 2022 and earlier this year. He will have his American debut in the San Antonio in his first start since late July.

Salesman was the easy winner of the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at the quirky distance of 1 5/8 miles on dirt Nov. 4 at Santa Anita for his first win in the United States. Salesman must show he can be effective at a shorter distance.

Mixto, supplemented for $4,000 on Friday, was a maiden race winner at a mile at Del Mar in his last start and will have his stakes debut in the San Antonio Stakes.

Subsanador is a fascinating prospect. He has won 7 of 12 starts, including six stakes at distances ranging from about 7 1/2 furlongs to about 1 1/8 miles.

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“He’s ready to go,” trainer John Sadler said Saturday. “It’s first time out, so you never know exactly what to expect. It’s a nice place to start.”

Sadler envisions the 4-year-old Subsanador will stalk expected pacesetter Brickyard Ride.

Stilleto Boy may be in a similar position as Subsanador.

Second in the 2022 San Antonio, Stilleto Boy won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles in March, but is winless in his last four starts.

Stilleto Boy, trained by Ed Moger Jr. for his brother Steve, has not raced since he finished last of nine in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 30 at Santa Anita.

Ed Moger gave Stilleto Boy a brief vacation following that race.

“Hopefully, he’ll run one of his good races,” Moger said. “He looks like a million bucks.”

After the Big Cap, Stilleto Boy was beaten in stakes at Oaklawn Park, Ellis Park, and Del Mar before the Awesome Again. Moger theorizes the extensive travel took a toll on the 5-year-old gelding.

“It may have been mental,” he said. “Maybe we traveled too much.”

Brickyard Ride, an eight-time stakes winner, has not raced since a fourth-place finish in the California Flag Stakes for statebred sprinters on turf Oct. 15. In July, Brickyard Ride was third in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar, leading to the final furlong before losing by three lengths.

The San Antonio Stakes is the third start following a seven-month layoff for Newgrange, winner of the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles last January. Newgrange, third in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes on Nov. 26 at Del Mar, is likely to race close to the pace.

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