There Goes Harvard changes style, ends lengthy skid with San Marcos triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. - To achieve his first win in nearly three years, the 7-year-old There Goes Harvard showed an old running style. He set the pace in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita.

Earlier in his career, way back in 2021 and 2022, There Goes Harvard won by stalking the early leaders and taking the lead in the stretch. In his last win prior to Saturday, in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on dirt in May 2022, There Goes Harvard closed from last of five to win the $400,000 race, the richest of his career.

The San Marcos had a purse of $101,000, but the victory was a boost for trainer Michael McCarthy, who has had There Goes Harvard throughout his career, and owners Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, who acquired the horse privately last August.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, There Goes Harvard ($11.20) won by 3 1/4 lengths over 4-1 Easter, finishing in 1:59.87. There Goes Harvard earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 100 on Saturday, which equals his career-best figure achieved in the 2022 Hollywood Gold Cup.

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Dettori had There Goes Harvard on the lead by a length shortly after the start and was never challenged by six rivals.

“I got a nice, easy lead,” Dettori said. “When I got him to the backside, he was playing with his ears, and I thought, Great.”

There Goes Harvard set a modest pace of 48.08 seconds for the first half-mile and six furlongs in 1:12.72. Lord Bullingdon, a 41-1 chance also trained by McCarthy, got within a half-length of There Goes Harvard with a quarter-mile remaining, but could not sustain the threat.

There Goes Harvard led by two lengths with a furlong remaining.

“When I pushed the button, I was free,” Dettori said.

The style of the win left McCarthy impressed.

“Frankie was able to slow it down a little bit,” McCarthy said. “No one took him on. Turning for home, he was still full of run and he gave him a big turn of foot.”

Easter, a three-time stakes winner in the final months of 2023, closed from last to finish second, a nose in front of Lord Bullingdon, a two-time stakes winner as a 2-year-old in 2023. Lord Bullingdon raced as a gelding for the first time on Saturday.

The remaining order of finish was Divin Propos, Atitlan, Truly Quality and Dicey Mo Chara.

Truly Quality, the 11-10 favorite in the San Marcos, won three turf stakes from September to late November last year at 1 3/8 miles and 1 1/2 miles. He was as close as fifth after six furlongs in the San Marcos, but posed no threat in the stretch, losing by slightly more than eight lengths.

“He was traveling okay, and he couldn’t reel them in,” said Jonathan Thomas, who trains Truly Quality. “Every once in a while, they’ll throw you for a loop.”

Thomas questioned in the build-up to the San Marcos whether Truly Quality would be as effective at a shorter distance than he was in his preceding starts.

“The cutback was fairly dramatic,” Thomas said after Saturday’s race.

There Goes Harvard, a horse by Will Take Charge, has won 5 of 21 starts and earned $764,590. The win on Saturday ended an eight-race losing streak that included a second in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 28 and a 10th-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 2 in his final start of 2024.

During the nearly three years between wins, There Goes Harvard had two lengthy layoffs, including one caused by an illness.

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