Hollywood Turf Cup Top Three Return in San Marcos

Two months after a 1-2-3 finish from Say the Word , Acclimate , and Friar's Road  in the 1 1/2-mile Hollywood Turf Cup (G2T) at Del Mar, the trio meet again Jan. 30 over a different course and trip at Santa Anita Park in the 1 1/4-mile San Marcos Stakes (G2T).

The $225,000 race also drew Dicey Mo Chara , Lincoln Hawk , and Bob and Jackie —though it is the group from the Hollywood Turf Cup that will command the most interest from bettors.

Just 1 1/4 lengths separated first through third in the Hollywood Turf Cup, though Say the Word was clearly best in the stretch that Nov. 26 afternoon, passing all six rivals in the final quarter of a mile. That powerful late punch allowed him to catch his stablemate Acclimate, who led until the closing seconds of the race. Acclimate, a length behind Say the Word, outlasted Friar's Road by a neck for the place.

The victory from Say the Word was his first since a victory in the Elkorn Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland in the spring. That race and a win in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Presented by Pattison (G1T) came at his best distance of 1 1/2 miles on grass.

He is a versatile horse who also grabbed second to Smooth Like Strait  in the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita one start after the Elkhorn.

The 7-year-old More Than Ready   gelding races for owners Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm and trainer Phil D'Amato, who also conditions the speedy Acclimate.

The latter, a year older, took the 2021 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) at age 7, a race he also won in 2019 when he was 5. The gelded son of Acclamation   looms an up-front threat. He and Bob and Jackie are the speed horses in the San Marcos.

Acclimate races for a partnership that includes The Ellwood Johnston Trust, Timmy Time Racing, Brooke and Ryan Bartlett, Michael Goritz, and Kenneth Tevelde.

"We expect Acclimate to be in front again," said D'Amato. "Say the Word should be coming late as usual, so we're hopeful they'll run 1-2."

Mr. and Mrs. William Warren Jr.'s Friar's Road was off a bit tardily in the Hollywood Turf Cup and raced wide in finishing third in the race. He subsequently returned in the off-the-turf San Gabriel Stakes (G3) Dec. 26, and favored at 7-10 odds, fell a nose short of catching early leader Bob and Jackie with his runner-up finish.

In his other stakes appearance, the Michael McCarthy trainee finished third, noses behind United  and Acclimate in a three-horse win photo in the John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita over 1 1/4 miles in October.

Carrying 120 pounds, the 5-year-old Quality Road   horse receives a four pound weight break from Say the World and two pounds from Acclimate.

The Sunday card at Santa Anita also includes the $75,000 Lady Shamrock Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf, headed by Italian raider Island of Love , and the $75,000 Baffle Stakes for 3-year-old males at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf.

Entries: San Marcos S. (G2T)

Santa Anita Park, Sunday, January 30, 2022, Race 7

• Grade II
• 1 1/4m
• Downhill turf
• $225,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 3:34 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Dicey Mo Chara (GB)	Abel Cedillo	120	Leonard Powell	8/1
2	2Lincoln Hawk (IRE)	Juan J. Hernandez	120	Richard Baltas	8/1
3	3Say the Word (ON)	Kent J. Desormeaux	124	Philip D'Amato	2/1
4	4Friar's Road (KY)	Flavien Prat	120	Michael W. McCarthy	5/2
5	5Acclimate (CA)	Ricardo Gonzalez	122	Philip D'Amato	5/2
6	6Bob and Jackie (KY)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	122	Richard Baltas	5/1