Midcourt, Roadster Meet Eight Others in San Pasqual

Midcourt faces nine rivals, including Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Roadster, in the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 1, but it's the headstrong gelding himself who gives his backers the most worry. The long-striding 5-year-old son of Midnight Lute  has a mind of his own.

He created some of his own problems in a troubled effort in the Dec. 28 San Antonio Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, first spotting the field a few lengths at the break and then advancing on the pack as he entered the first of two turns. Already wide, he was carried even wider when rivals drifted out.

Midcourt's talent was on display thereafter. Rather than fold, he maintained a steady pace and passed opponents to run third, beaten 7 1/2 lengths by Gift Box and 3 3/4 lengths by runner-up King Abner, a San Pasqual entrant. He traveled 69 more feet than the ground-saving winner and 44 more than the runner-up, according to Trakus.

“Horses weren’t closing that day, but he did make a good run, so we were happy with that," trainer John Shirreffs said. "With this horse, just getting away from the gate well is important. … He needs to get into stride, and when he does, he’s much more comfortable.”

Wide trips are more the norm for slow-breaking Midcourt than the exception. Only while winning the Nov. 23 Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar did he buck that trend, starting better than usual and taking charge inside en route to a 5 3/4-length victory under Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza, his jockey since the summer.

He also narrowly took the Oct. 27 Comma to the Top Stakes at Santa Anita with his customary wide-rallying tactics. He has won four of eight races and $222,695 for owner C R K Stable, the last six of those races when trained by Shirreffs.

Far behind Midcourt in the Native Diver were San Pasqual competitors Two Thirty Five and Roadster—third and fourth, respectively. Two Thirty Five is unraced since; Roadster rallied for second behind the now-retired Omaha Beach  in the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes (G1) Dec. 28 at Santa Anita.

"He was sick the next day. He was just flat," trainer Bob Baffert said of Roadster in the Native Diver. "He ran a good second to Omaha Beach, but it was too short for him."

Midcourt and Speedway Stable's Roadster are winners at the 1 1/8-mile San Pasqual distance, Midcourt in the Native Diver and Roadster in the Santa Anita Derby over the 2-year-old champion of 2018, Game Winner.

Joel Rosario will ride Roadster, who breaks from the rail.

With stablemates McKinzie and Mucho Gusto pointed for races in the Middle East this winter and spring, Roadster will remain in California. The San Pasqual is a prep for the Mar. 7 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) at 1 1/4 miles.

Dating to 1999 with Silver Charm, Baffert has won the San Pasqual a record five times, most recently with Hoppertunity  in 2015. Shirreffs won it in 2010 with Neko Bay.

Besides Midcourt, the 3-1 favorite on the morning line, and Roadster, the 7-2 second choice, other San Pasqual contenders include Restrainedvengence and King Abner, both at 4-1.

The race also includes Instagrand and Combatant, runners who participated in grade 1 races as 3-year-olds. Instagrand, now 4, ran third behind Roadster and Game Winner last year in the Santa Anita Derby, and 5-year-old Combatant was 18th in the 2018 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) after a fourth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1) under the direction of trainer Steve Asmussen for owners Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing.

Combatant was a $220,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale by bloodstock agent David Ingordo from the Gainesway consignment. He now races for owner Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler.

Entries: San Pasqual S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, February 01, 2020, Race 8

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:02 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Roadster (KY)	Joel Rosario	122	Bob Baffert	7/2
2	2Route Six Six (MD)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	120	Brian J. Koriner	20/1
3	3Restrainedvengence (KY)	Abel Cedillo	120	Val Brinkerhoff	4/1
4	4King Abner (CA)	Flavien Prat	120	Philip D'Amato	4/1
5	5Midcourt (KY)	Victor Espinoza	122	John A. Shirreffs	3/1
6	6Instagrand (KY)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	120	Don Chatlos	12/1
7	7California Street (KY)	Mike E. Smith	120	Patrick Gallagher	12/1
8	8Two Thirty Five (KY)	Ruben Fuentes	120	Richard Baltas	8/1
9	9Bold Endeavor (KY)	Mario Gutierrez	120	George Papaprodromou	30/1
10	10Combatant (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	120	John W. Sadler	10/1