Red King Reigns Supreme in San Juan Capistrano
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Red King wins the San Juan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Red King returned to the Santa Anita Park turf June 21 to take a second crack at the $101,500 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T), and finally found his way to the winner's circle for the first time in a stakes.
Campaigned by Little Red Feather Racing, Gordon Jacobsen, and Philip Belmonte, Red King broke well under Umberto Rispoli from post 2 and was unhurried along the backstretch running in midpack. Favorite Ward 'n Jerry dueled with Kershaw from the break and got up to take the lead by one length at the mile mark.
Running only five lengths off the leader as the pack began to turn for home, Red King kicked forward to move into third and was angled out exiting the turn. He pulled clear at the start of the stretch, increased his lead to 2 1/2 lengths, and crossed the wire 4 1/4 lengths in front.
Ward 'n Jerry was unable to hold on to his early lead. Though he battled briefly with Red King through the stretch, he crossed the finish in third behind Siberian Iris. Siberian Iris, who was in seventh through the early stages, made a three-wide move in the stretch just outside the rail before running clear to the finish to take second.
Tintoretto, Swamp Souffle, Avalanche, Soberano, and Kershaw completed the order of finish. The final time for the marathon mile and three quarters on firm turf was 2:46.67.
"It was my first time going from the top of the downhill and … it is beautiful," said Rispoli, who was aboard Red King for the first time.
"The grass is amazing. It's a really good track. It's been a long time since I've gone so far in a race because in Europe, we used to go quite enough every day. But it was a good feeling. Obviously, you need a horse like that."
Red King entered the race off a May 24 allowance optional claiming win at Santa Anita. Sunday's race was the first stakes for the 6-year-old son of English Channel since last year's renewal, when he finished third.
"My horse won his last race, and that picked his confidence up," trainer Phil D'Amato said. "It looked like maybe the favorite moved a little soon, and Umberto was in the right spot.
"Growing up here in LA, this was always one of my favorite races as a kid. I remember I used to stand on the apron way past the wire and watch them come home in this race, just so I could take it all in. It's an amazing race, and it's really cool to win it."