Miler Bob and Jackie Tries Turf Sprint in San Simeon

Bob and Jackie cuts back in distance to six furlongs on turf in a matchup against sharp recent stakes winner Gregorian Chant, defending champ Cistron, and classy female Jolie Olimpica, in the $100,000 San Simeon Stakes (G3T) March 13 at Santa Anita Park.

Second, beaten 3 3/4 lengths as the 2-1 favorite behind next-out Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) winner Hit the Road in the Thunder Road Stakes (G3T) at one mile on turf Feb. 6, Bob and Jackie sprints for the first time since his debut at age 2 in the fall of 2018. That day he was a close second going 6 1/2 furlongs down Santa Anita's hillside turf course.

A three-time minor stakes winner at a mile on grass at ages 2, 3, and 4 for trainer Richard Baltas, Bob and Jackie has won four out of his 10 starts—all in combination with Heriberto Figueroa, who will be replaced Saturday by jockey Drayden Van Dyke. Owned by Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran after racing earlier in his career for Zayat Stables, Bob and Jackie, a 5-year-old horse by Twirling Candy , will likely be in close early attendance of the pace despite coming out of routes. He has earnings of $269,551.

Trained by Phil D'Amato, English-bred Gregorian Chant came roaring from off the pace to register an emphatic 2 1/4 length win in the restricted Clocker's Corner Stakes at six furlongs on turf Jan. 24 and appears to be a horse who's perhaps found a new niche in partnership with jockey Juan Hernandez. With the likes of Cistron in the lineup, Gregorian Chant, owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Old Bones Racing Stable, and Michael Nentwig, the son of Gregorian searches his first graded stakes win.

A winner of last year's San Simeon when it was contested at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, Cistron has been idle since running fifth in the Daytona Stakes (G3T) at that same distance on turf May 23. A grade I winner on dirt, Cistron, a 7-year-old horse by The Factor , will be ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli. Cistron should show plenty of early zip off the bench as he seeks his fourth graded stakes victory for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler.

A group I and group 3 stakes winner versus males at age 3 in her native Brazil, the Richard Mandella-trained Jolie Olimpica will face males for the first time in America. She makes her second start following a seven-month layoff after finishing second to winner Charmaine's Mia in the Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) Jan. 9. Mike Smith will be aboard the 5-year-old mare by Drosselmeyer, owned by Fox Hill Farms.

Entries: San Simeon S. (G3T)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 13, 2021, Race 7

• Grade IIIT
• 6f
• Turf
• $100,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 3:46 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Barristan The Bold (GB)	Abel Cedillo	120	Mark Glatt	15/1
2	2Gregorian Chant (GB)	Juan J. Hernandez	122	Philip D'Amato	7/2
3	3Bob and Jackie (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	122	Richard Baltas	4/1
4	4Sombeyay (KY)	Flavien Prat	120	Peter Miller	4/1
5	5Cistron (KY)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	122	John W. Sadler	7/2
6	6Shashashakemeup (KY)	Ricardo Gonzalez	120	Peter Miller	12/1
7	7Jolie Olimpica (BRZ)	Mike E. Smith	117	Richard E. Mandella	3/1
8	8Sparky Ville (KY)	Ruben Fuentes	120	Dan Blacker	15/1