Cezanne, Brickyard Ride to Battle in San Carlos

Distant 1-2 finishers when last they met 10 months ago, Cezanne  and Brickyard Ride  will square off again as they head a field of nine older horses going seven furlongs in the $200,000 San Carlos Stakes Presented by FanDuel (G2) March 5 at Santa Anita Park.

A 5-year-old horse by Curlin  , Cezanne rallied from off the pace to defeat heavily favored Brickyard Ride by 9 3/4 lengths after Brickyard Ride was pressed through furious splits of :21.18 and :43.60 in winning the Kona Gold Stakes (G3) April 18. Final time for 6 1/2 furlongs in the Kona Gold was 1:14.71.

Idle until resurfacing in the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) Jan. 29, Cezanne finished third, beaten three lengths, as the 3-5 favorite in a start that he likely needed to regain fitness.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and St. Elias Stable, Cezanne has come out of his most recent start to train in high profile fashion. Dating back to Feb. 7, he has worked four times, with his last three moves, two at five furlongs and his most recent at six furlongs Feb. 27, accomplished in bullet fashion.

With a recent race under his belt, Cezanne will hope to have Brickyard Ride in his sights at the top of the lane as he seeks his second graded stakes win in his sixth career start.

A lightning-quick 5-year-old California-bred horse by Clubhouse Ride  and the defending San Carlos victor, the Craig Lewis-trained Brickyard Ride will no doubt take some catching in the race he won by four front-running lengths last year.

Fresh off a massive 7 1/2-length victory in the one-mile Tiznow Stakes vs. California-breds here Feb. 21, Brickyard Ride wheels back on 12 days rest as he seeks his sixth stakes win and his 11th win from 21 overall starts.

A gate-to-wire winner of the Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint at six furlongs Jan. 15, Brickyard Ride, an imposing chestnut out of owner/breeder Alfred Pais' Southern Image  mare Brickyard Helen , is in search of his third consecutive win, the last two resulting in Equibase Speed Figures of 108 and 107.

There's no question that Lewis and Pais have been anxious to get back in the ring with Cezanne, as it was his stablemate, Ax Man  who pushed Brickyard Ride through such hot fractions in last year's Kona Gold. Easily the leading money earner in the field with $620,977, Brickyard Ride, no matter the early splits, will be extremely tough to catch if he's clear turning for home.

C R K Stable's Canadian Pride, a 5-year-old gelding by Creative Cause  , comes off a vastly improved effort in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance optional claimer Feb. 4, a race he won by 2 1/4 lengths.

Trained by Peter Eurton, Canadian Pride, who will be facing stakes competition for the first time in his 13th career start, will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado, as Flavien Prat lands on Cezanne.

Further contenders include Eight Rings  and Shooters Shoot . The former was a grade 1 winner at 2 and grade 1-placed sprinting last summer, and the latter recently ran second in the Palos Verdes, beaten a neck by Essential Wager  and 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Cezanne.

Entries: San Carlos S. presented by FanDuel (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 05, 2022, Race 4

• Grade II
• 7f
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 1:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Brickyard Ride (CA)	Juan J. Hernandez	122	Craig Anthony Lewis	-
2	American Theorem (KY)	Mike E. Smith	120	George Papaprodromou	-
3	Canadian Pride (KY)	Edwin A. Maldonado	120	Peter Eurton	-
4	Cezanne (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	Bob Baffert	-
5	Principe Carlo (CA)	Kyle Frey	120	Librado Barocio	-
6	Eight Rings (KY)	John R. Velazquez	120	Bob Baffert	-
7	Phantom Dance (ON)	Ramon A. Vazquez	120	Philip D'Amato	-
8	Wicked Trick (KY)	Abel Cedillo	120	Robert B. Hess, Jr.	-
9	Shooters Shoot (KY)	Victor Espinoza	120	Richard Baltas	-