Holly and David Wilson's Barraza will be seeking his fourth consecutive win as he heads a solid field of eight older horses going about 6 1/2 furlongs down Santa Anita Park's hillside turf course in the Feb. 20 $100,000 San Simeon Stakes (G3T).
In an unexpected change in tactics, Barraza went to the lead in the Jan. 22 Clocker's Corner Stakes and galloped by 2 1/4 lengths as the even-money favorite under Kent Desormeaux, who had ridden the 4-year-old in his last seven starts.
With Desormeaux out of action, John Velazquez takes the call for Barraza, who is unbeaten in two hillside starts, on Oct. 31 and again two starts back on Jan. 2. On both of those occasions, he rallied impressively from off the pace, which certainly provides Velazquez with options on Sunday.
Barraza was claimed out of a maiden $100,000 claimer nine starts back on April 11 and is unquestionably at the top of his game now. As he bids for his second consecutive stakes win and fourth victory in a row, Barraza has an overall mark of 12-4-1-2 and has earnings of $197,700.
“(Barraza is) doing really well,” said Vladimir Cerin, who conditions the Into Mischief colt for longtime clients Holly and David Wilson. “He’s happy and kind of like a young puppy.”
Second, beaten a nose by Eastern invader Chewing Gum in the Jan. 1 Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2T), Beer Can Man has been the very definition of consistency for owners Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Madaket Stables. A winner of two out of his four starts for his original connections at age 2 in Indiana, Beer Can Man, a 4-year-old colt by Can the Man , won his very first start in Southern California as a juvenile in the the 2020 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar.
Although he crossed the wire in second three starts back in the Turf Monster Stakes (G3T) at Parx Racing, Beer Can Man was recently awarded the victory upon the disqualification of the Juan Vazquez-trained Hollywood Talent, who was taken down after testing positive for the drug levamisole.
First or second five times and once third in his next six starts, Beer Can Man, who will be making his first start for Phil D'Amato, brings an overall mark of 11-6-2-1 to the San Simeon. He was previously trained by Mark Glatt.
Idle since a third place effort in the FanDuel Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) last September at Kentucky Downs, the Raydelz Stable homebred Bombard showed plenty of spunk at age 8 last year, winning the Daytona Stakes (G3T) going 6 1/2 furlongs out of Santa Anita's turf chute two starts back on May 29 and finishing a close second in his first start of 2021 going six furlongs in a turf allowance there April 25.
“We had to work through some foot problems with him, but he’s back in good shape,” trainer Richard Mandella said, explaining the reason for the venerable campaigner’s extended absence.
With regular rider Flavien Prat opting for Barraza, Bombard will be ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez as he seeks his second graded win and his fourth overall stakes victory.
Santa Anita Park, Sunday, February 20, 2022, Race 8Entries: San Simeon S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Chaos Theory (KY)
Edwin A. Maldonado
120
Robert B. Hess, Jr.
10/1
2
2Commander (FR)
UMBERTO RISPOLI
120
Ruben D. Alvarado
6/1
3
3Barraza (KY)
John R. Velazquez
122
Vladimir Cerin
2/1
4
4Beer Can Man (KY)
Flavien Prat
124
Philip D'Amato
5/2
5
5Guildsman (FR)
Drayden Van Dyke
120
Robert N. Falcone, Jr.
20/1
6
6Bran (FR)
Joe Bravo
120
John W. Sadler
6/1
7
7Bombard (KY)
Juan J. Hernandez
122
Richard E. Mandella
4/1
8
8Indian Peak (CA)
Abel Cedillo
122
Ruben D. Alvarado
15/1