Dicey Mo Chara Stretches Out Once More in San Luis Rey

Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's Dicey Mo Chara  could be the horse to beat in his return to route races after a fourth-place effort in the San Francisco Mile Stakes (G3T).

In an eight-horse field largely devoid of early speed, Dicey Mo Chara, breaking from the 3 post, could find himself on the lead in the May 13 San Luis Rey Stakes (G3T) as he was two starts back in the Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T). The Leonard Powell trainee has been a major player in the two-turn turf division amongst older males in Southern California since 2022. After a series of heartbreaking defeats, he finally landed a graded score of his own in the Dec. 26 San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park.

The British-bred gelding will be reunited with Santa Anita's current leading rider Juan Hernandez in the $100,000, 1 1/2-mile contest. Hernandez is quite familiar with Dicey Mo Chara, having guided the son of Adaay  to his San Gabriel triumph.

Dicey Mo Chara will need to turn the tables on his Charles Whittingham conqueror, Offlee Naughty . Campaigned by James and Donna Daniell, Offlee Naughty overcame a troubled trip to skirt past Dicey Mo Chara and the reopposing Opry  late for a one-length victory in the April 8 Charles Whittingham. The performance was made all the more impressive when one considers Dicey Mo Chara's sluggish early fractions.

The Michael McCarthy pupil has Umberto Rispoli in the irons on Saturday.