Texas Ryano looks to rebound in San Gabriel

ARCADIA, Calif. – Gender Agenda gave trainer Carla Gaines a successful start to the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting with an upset win in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes last Sunday. Gaines is poised for another potential upset in a stakes if Texas Ryano can run to his early-autumn form in Saturday’s $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita.

Texas Ryano won the King Pellinore Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf Sept. 27 but struggled at Del Mar, finishing fifth in an optional claimer at a mile Oct. 30 and eighth of 14 in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup on Nov. 26.

“He ran terrible,” Gaines said. “I have no excuse for Del Mar.”

Owned by Warren Williamson, Texas Ryano won his first stakes in the King Pellinore and can win his first graded stakes in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Despite his poor recent form, Gaines is optimistic about Saturday’s race.

“He’s working well, he’s galloping well, and he’s very sound,” Gaines said. “I’m happy.”

The San Gabriel field is expected to include Bal a Bali, who won the Grade 3 American Stakes here last May and was second in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar on Nov. 27; Big John B, who was second in the Hollywood Turf Cup; and Chiropractor, who won the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 28.

Gaines said Gender Agenda will be kept on turf in coming starts. Her next race could be the $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf Feb. 20.

She said Bolo, third in the Santa Anita Derby and 12th in the Kentucky Derby last spring, is about a month from a return to racing. Bolo was ninth in the Belmont Derby in July in his last start.