Veteran Cleopatra's Strike Favored in San Gabriel

After securing the first graded stakes win of his career last year, Cleopatra's Strike will look to build on that success when he returns for his 7-year-old season in 2020.

First up on the Smart Strike gelding's schedule is taking care of some unfinished business in the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) Jan. 4 on the turf at Santa Anita Park. Last year, Cleopatra's Strike used a stalking bid on his way to a half-length advantage in midstretch of the 1 1/8-mile race before settling for second, a nose behind grade 1 winner Next Shares.

That race marked the Southern California debut for Cleopatra's Strike, who made his first 22 starts for owner/breeder Sam-Son Farm—the majority of those races coming at Woodbine. After closing his 2018 season with a narrow victory in an allowance optional claiming race on the Woodbine turf, Cleopatra's Strike was purchased by Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig.

Transferred to trainer Philip D'Amato by his new owners, Cleopatra's Strike didn't take long to adjust to his new environs. After the San Gabriel—his first stakes start—Cleopatra's Strike took some time off before returning with a runner-up finish in an allowance optional claiming race in September at Del Mar. In his next start Sept. 28, Cleopatra's Strike posted a clear victory in the John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita. He closed the season with a close fourth in the Dec. 1 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar over a 1 1/2-mile distance, perhaps beyond his best.

"He was presented to us by Jeff Macore out of Texas, and a lot of the horses he sends our way are pretty interesting, to say the least," Slam Dunk Racing's Nick Cosato said after the John Henry. "Phil's done a great job with this guy; he really loved him, and they didn't downplay how much confidence he had in him today."

Video: John Henry Turf Championship S. (G2T)

Abel Cedillo, who scored his first Santa Anita graded stakes win in the John Henry, will be back aboard the 2-1 morning-line favorite Saturday in an expected field of seven older horses.

Desert Stone will look to add his first graded stakes win Saturday. The 5-year-old son of Fastnet Rock has been close, placing in three graded stakes during his career, including a third-place finish in last year's Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) at one mile on the Santa Anita turf. He has been out of action since May.

Trained by Richard Baltas, Zayat Stables' Desert Stone will start from the inside with Geovanni Franco in the irons.

Another horse who secured his first graded stakes win in 2019 is 5-year-old Majestic Eagle, who will try to snap a three-race skid—all in stakes. In June, the son of Medaglia d'Oro  won the American Stakes (G3T) at one mile on the Santa Anita grass. He is trained by Neil Drysdale, and Rafael Bejarano will ride.

Entries: San Gabriel S. (G2T)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, January 04, 2020, Race 8

• Grade IIT
• 1 1/8m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 3:07 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Desert Stone (IRE)	Geovanni Franco	120	Richard Baltas	3/1
2	2Chosen Vessel (KY)	Tyler Baze	120	Craig Dollase	10/1
3	3Cleopatra's Strike (ON)	Abel Cedillo	124	Philip D'Amato	2/1
4	4Overdue (KY)	Mike E. Smith	120	Philip D'Amato	6/1
5	5North County Guy (CA)	Mario Gutierrez	120	Richard Baltas	8/1
6	6Majestic Eagle (KY)	Rafael Bejarano	122	Neil D. Drysdale	3/1
7	7Acker (KY)	Joel Rosario	120	Neil French	8/1