Santa Anita: Bourbon Bay among five probables for San Juan Capistrano

ARCADIA, Calif. – The marathon $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap, the closing day feature of the winter-spring meeting at Santa Anita on Sunday, will not have a large field.

As of Wednesday, the race over about 1 3/4 miles on turf had five probable starters, led by 2010 winner Bourbon Bay. Trained by Neil Drysdale, Bourbon Bay won the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf on March 25.

A 6-year-old gelding, Bourbon Bay is expected to face Dhaamer, Eagle Poise, Harrods Creek, and Hog Hollow, none of whom has won a stakes this year. Eagle Poise won the Grade 3 Valedictory Stakes over 1 3/4 miles on the Polytrack synthetic surface at Woodbine last December.

Dynamic Host, the winner of the Grade 3 Tokyo City Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on the main track here on March 24, will skip the race in favor of the $70,000 Round Table Handicap over 1 1/2 miles on turf at Hollywood Park on May 13, trainer Art Sherman said.

“I don’t think I can beat Bourbon Bay,” Sherman said. “I might be third or fourth. I could be one of the favorites for the other race.”

The race drew 13 nominees, but three of them – Antidote, Falcon Rock, and Quaintly – have been entered in an optional claimer over 1 1/2 miles on turf on Friday.

Saturday’s $150,000 Santa Barbara Handicap for fillies and mares over 1 1/4 miles on turf is led by Vamo a Galupiar, the winner of the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes on March 25.

Trained by Drysdale, Vamo a Galupiar is part of a field of seven that includes Bauble Queen, the winner of the Grade 2 Robert Frankel Stakes in January, and Cambina, who won the Grade 1 American Oaks last summer.