Speedy Cal-Bred Brickyard Ride Returns in San Simeon

Idle for nine months, the Craig Lewis-trained Brickyard Ride  heads a field of eight older horses sprinting about 6 1/2 furlongs down Santa Anita Park's hillside turf course in the $100,000 San Simeon Stakes (G3T) March 5.

The lone California-bred in the lineup, Brickyard Ride, a 6-year-old horse by Clubhouse Ride  out of the Southern Image  mare Brickyard Helen , is owned by his breeder Alfred Pais.

A two-time graded and seven-time overall stakes winner, Brickyard Ride won his only try down Santa Anita's unique hillside turf course as he took the state-bred Sensational Star Stakes three starts ago March 20, 2022, in gate-to-wire fashion by 1 1/2 lengths.

Lightning quick, Brickyard Ride unfurled interior splits of :21.21, :42.76, and 1:05.36 en route to a final Sensational Star clocking of 1:11.45.

That said, a lack of recency and an 11 3/4-length drubbing as the 1-5 favorite in his most recent start, the Triple Bend Stakes (G3) going seven furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita May 29, could prove a concern to handicappers. Mitigating these factors is a robust work tab, as Lewis sent him out for three consecutive six-furlong drills, two of them bullet moves, on Jan. 19, Jan. 27, and Feb. 5.

With training limited due to a barrage of wet weather, Brickyard Ride's most recent drill was Feb. 16, as he went five panels in :59 3/5, second best of 26 at the distance.

With an overall mark 12-1-2 in 23 starts, Brickyard Ride, who will be ridden for the ninth consecutive time by leading rider Juan Hernandez, has amassed earnings of $744,977.

In top recent form, Irish-bred Count of Amazonia  rallied for a smashing two-length second condition allowance optional claiming score down the hill Feb. 10 and rates a strong chance from off the pace with John Velazquez riding for the first time.

Trained by Bob Hess Jr. and owned by 4004 Biscayne, Duke Perry Stable, Larry Buckendorf, and Jeffrey Lambert, Count of Amazonia, who was claimed six starts back at Del Mar for $50,000, would relish a fast pace.

Phil D'Amato's English-bred Motorious  is another horse that will hope to be winging late and is in good recent form. Most recently second, beaten 2 1/2 lengths as the 3-5 favorite down the hill in the restricted Clockers' Corner Stakes Jan. 29, he will be ridden back by Flavien Prat.

A 5-year-old gelding, Motorious is owned by Anthony Fanticola. A 3 1/4-length hillside allowance optional claiming winner two starts back on Jan. 2, Motorious is 2-2-1 in five Southern California starts and is 4-3-2 in 12 races overall.

Bass Stables' homebred Sumter  makes his first start down the hill. On the lead until deep stretch in the Dec. 26 Santa Anita Mathis Mile (G2T), Sumter finished third, losing by 1 1/4 lengths. A two-time stakes winner at one mile on turf for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, the 4-year-old War Front colt will be ridden back by fellow Hall of Famer Mike Smith. With a record of 3-2-3 in 10 starts, Sumter has earnings of $249,600.

Entries: San Simeon S. (G3T)

Santa Anita Park, Sunday, March 05, 2023, Race 5

• Grade III
• About 6 1/2f
• Downhill turf
• $100,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 2:31 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Brickyard Ride (CA)	Juan J. Hernandez	124	Craig Anthony Lewis	2/1
2	2Sumter (KY)	Mike E. Smith	122	Richard E. Mandella	5/1
3	3Count of Amazonia (IRE)	John R. Velazquez	120	Robert B. Hess, Jr.	8/1
4	4Whatmakessammyrun (KY)	Joe Bravo	124	Mark Glatt	5/1
5	5Motorious (GB)	Flavien Prat	120	Philip D'Amato	5/2
6	6Respect the Code (KY)	Kent J. Desormeaux	120	George Papaprodromou	8/1
7	7Anarchist (KY)	Lanfranco Dettori	120	Doug F. O'Neill	15/1
8	8Mecklenburg (IRE)	Ricardo Gonzalez	120	Jeff Mullins	12/1