Santa Anita: Vagabond Shoes eyes San Luis Rey Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Vagabond Shoes, the winner of the $201,500 San Marcos Stakes on turf Saturday, will start in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf March 22, trainer John Sadler said.

In the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes over 1 1/4 miles, Vagabond Shoes, the 5-2 favorite, closed from seventh to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 19-1 Si Sage. The San Marcos was the first start for Vagabond Shoes since a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf over 1 1/2 miles here last November.

Sadler said he has no concern about trying Vagabond Shoes in longer turf races.

“He showed he can do it in the Breeders’ Cup,” Sadler said. “He just got beat two lengths, and he was running against world-class horses.”

Sadler had two stakes wins Saturday, including Candy Boy in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. The victories gave Sadler seven wins from 66 starts at the meeting through Saturday. His stable had 15 second-place finishes and 13 thirds in that span.