Shea Brennan, after dominating Bertrando Stakes, possible for San Diego Handicap
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Proven against California-breds, Shea Brennan is a candidate for the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on July 18 after a win in Saturday’s $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for California-bred milers at Los Alamitos.
Trained by Phil D’Amato for owner and breeder Nick Alexander, Shea Brennan led throughout the Bertrando Stakes, winning by 3 1/4 lengths in his first start since November.
“I thought it was a good performance,” D’Amato said on Sunday morning. “He likes long on dirt. There should be more improvement second time out.
“I’m happy he came out of the race in good shape.”
A 4-year-old colt by Tough Sunday, Shea Brennan has won 4 of 11 starts and earned $347,530. In the Bertrando, Shea Brennan led a sweep of the exacta for Alexander and D’Amato with Speedy Wilson closing on the inside to finish second.
Shea Brennan has finished first five times, but was disqualified from first to second in the California Cup Derby against statebreds at Santa Anita in January 2025 for bumping a rival in the stretch.
The $300,000 San Diego Handicap is the first of two graded stakes around two turns on dirt at the Del Mar summer meeting that begins on July 17. The San Diego is designed as a prep race for the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 22.
D’Amato said on Sunday that he is considering starting the multiple graded stakes winner Stronghold in the San Diego Handicap or the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs on July 25.
Stronghold, the winner of the 2024 Santa Anita Derby and the Grade 3 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on May 31, worked a half-mile in 48 seconds at Santa Anita on Sunday. A long-range goal is the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 29.
“I’m between the San Diego and the Bing Crosby,” D’Amato said. “He’s coming along nicely.
“I’ll probably end up in the Pat O’Brien at the end of the meet, but those are two options early on.”
Trainer John Sadler has two prospects for the San Diego in Full Serrano, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar in 2024, and The Goat, a three-time Group 1 winner in Chile in 2024 who was fourth in the Triple Bend in his American debut.
On Saturday at Santa Anita, The Goat worked five furlongs in 58.40 seconds, the fastest work of the day at the distance. Full Serrano, fourth after a troubled start in the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile at Oaklawn Park in March, worked a half-mile in 46.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Sunday, the second-fastest of 117 works at the distance.
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