Santa Anita: Jeranimo captures San Gabriel for third time

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jeranimo in the San Gabriel Stakes is like the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano. The now 8-year-old warrior ran in the Grade 2 grass race at Santa Anita for the fourth straight season on Saturday, and won it for the third time, and second in succession, with a powerful rally that brought him from last to first in the stretch run of the 1 1/8-mile race.

Jeranimo ($4.60) was both the sentimental and the betting favorite, and he did not disappoint. Reunited with jockey Rafael Bejarano, who rode him to his last two victories – including the San Gabriel – in 2013, Jeranimo powered past leader Slim Shadey in the final furlong to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:46.00 on the firm course.

Artic North was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third and was followed, in order, by Utopian, Fire With Fire, Huntsville, and Te Rapa.

The victory was the 11th in 39 lifetime starts for Jeranimo, who has been trained throughout his career by Mike Pender. He is owned by B.J. Wright – his original owner – and Robert LaPenta, who bought into the horse well into his career. With the $120,000 he earned from the $200,500 purse on Saturday, Jeranimo has now made more than $1.5 million.

“He should be 4 for 4 in the last four if his bonehead trainer didn’t try to make a speed horse out of him,” Pender said, referring to a runner-up finish in the 2012 San Gabriel. “The great thing about great horses like this is they forgive the mistakes made by humans.”

Jeranimo won the Grade 1 Eddie Read, like the San Gabriel a 1 1/8-mile grass race, last summer at Del Mar. After that, he was ninth on Polytrack in the Pacific Classic, ninth on dirt in the Awesome Again, then seventh on the hillside turf course in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. The San Gabriel was his first start since the Breeders’ Cup.

Jeranimo retains a terrific turn of foot even at his advanced age. He finished his final three furlongs in 33.80 seconds, and final furlong in about 11 seconds flat.