Slam Dunk's Cleopatra's Strike Shoots for San Marcos

Different coasts, different tracks, but Slam Dunk Racing and partners are in a similar position Feb. 1: represented by a contender in a graded race. Hours after their unbeaten 3-year-old filly Tonalist's Shape heads the $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, Slam Dunk's Cleopatra's Strike faces United and five others in the $200,000 San Marcos Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park.

Although Slam Dunk has strong chances with both horses, the stakes test for Cleopatra's Strike seems more challenging. Besides United, the runner-up to 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) last fall, the field includes graded stakes winners Multiplier and Oscar Dominguez. 

The Phil D'Amato-trained Cleopatra's Strike won the John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T) last fall at the San Marco's distance of 1 1/4 miles on the Santa Anita grass. He then ran fourth, a length behind Oscar Dominguez and United, in the 1 1/2-mile Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) Dec. 1 at Del Mar before a neck defeat Jan. 4 in the 1 1/8-mile San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita.

Video: San Gabriel S. (G2T)

"Phil made the decision to cut the hole a little bit bigger in his blinkers because he thinks he was not seeing enough of the horses running by him," Slam Dunk managing partner Nick Cosato said. "A horse will run by him and then he will kind of get another burst. Hopefully, the minor blinkers change that we made will be to his benefit."

A 7-year-old Smart Strike gelding, Cleopatra's Strike has a 4-10-2 record from 27 starts and earnings of $428,844. Abel Cedillo will ride from post 2 in the field of six.

Slam Dunk and Michael Nentwig own Cleopatra's Strike. Slam Dunk's partners with the Saffie Joseph-trained Tonalist's Shape are Doug Branham and Legacy Ranch. Both horses were privately purchased earlier in their careers as racing prospects upon the recommendation of bloodstock agent Jeff Mackor, Cosato said.

LNJ Foxwoods' United, who nearly pulled off a 51-1 surprise before being caught by Bricks and Mortar in the closing yards of the Breeders' Cup Turf, will seek to avenge a neck loss to Oscar Dominguez in the Hollywood Turf Cup when a wide trip might have cost him victory. As the runner-up, the 5-year-old Giant's Causeway gelding raced 32 more feet than the winner, according to Trakus.

"I wish it was a mile and a half, but it's a mile and a quarter," United's trainer, Richard Mandella, said of Saturday's race. "I think he's sharper than he's ever been, and I think he'll run really well."

He enters the San Marcos off two bullet workouts on Santa Anita's main track: six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 Jan. 19 and a half-mile in :46 4/5 Jan. 26. Flavien Prat will return in the irons with the pair slated to leave post 4.

Oscar Dominguez is also a threat. The Zoffany gelding is in career-best form for trainer Richard Baltas, who claimed him for $40,000 in February for owners Nancy Messineo and Bruce Sands.

An absence of pace in the San Marcos could compromise the late-running United and Oscar Dominguez.

Chosen Vessel and Brown Storm are the remaining participants.  

Entries: San Marcos S. (G2T)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, February 01, 2020, Race 7

• Grade II
• 1 1/4m
• Downhill turf
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 3:31 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Chosen Vessel (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	120	Craig Dollase	12/1
2	2Cleopatra's Strike (ON)	Abel Cedillo	124	Philip D'Amato	2/1
3	3Multiplier (KY)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	120	Peter Miller	12/1
4	4United (KY)	Flavien Prat	120	Richard E. Mandella	8/5
5	5Brown Storm (CHI)	Hector Berrios	120	Michael W. McCarthy	6/1
98	6Campaign (KY)	SCRATCHED	0	UNKNOWN	-
6	7Oscar Dominguez (IRE)	Joel Rosario	124	Richard Baltas	5/2