Planetario Wins Easily in San Juan Capistrano Stakes
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Planetario wins the San Juan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita Park
On his last time out, Planetario couldn't rein in Offlee Naughty on the turf at Santa Anita Park.
Fast forward a month-plus and the roles were reversed as Planetario proved too much for the other five contenders in the field of the $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) June 18, the final day of Santa Anita's spring meet.
The Red Rafa Stud homebred won by 4 1/2 lengths on a firm and fast turf, stopping the clock in 2:48.08.
Trainer Richard Mandella was concerned that after Planetario's last time out—the 1 1/2-mile San Luis Rey Stakes (G3T)—the added distance might not have been the best decision.
But coming off his last work, five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 June 12 on the Santa Anita turf, Mandella had faith.
"Just great," he said of the breeze. "We tried putting his speed in him, obviously. ... Just trying to keep him fit and build his wind up. You also have the concern that he ran so well, a mile and a half last time, did you leave something on the track that day? Obviously not, he gained from it."
Opry held steady in the lead for the first 1 1/4 miles, but he couldn't hold off the speed that was coming up from behind him. Birth of Cool edged him out for the lead in what seemed a blink of an eye before Planetario swung out four wide and wrested control of the race, matching his career-best Equibase Speed Figure of 101.
"My horse ran very comfortably," said jockey Hector Berrios. "I was just waiting for the favorite (Offlee Naughty) to make his move and I think that was in our favor."
Offlee Naughty settled in near the rear from the start, comfortably keeping pace with no urgency early in the 1 3/4-mile test. But as the field made its approach to the stretch, he found himself unable to spring to the outside and had to find a way forward between competitors.
Going down the stretch, the traffic congestion eased, but by the time he and jockey Umberto Rispoli found daylight, winning the race was no longer in the cards.
The race featured fractions of :48.80, 1:13.77, 1:40.71, 2:07.40, and 2:32.08.
A $2 win ticket paid $7.40. Offlee Naughty was followed by Rimprotector , who trailed him by a nose.
Planetario is out of the Crimson Tide mare Aerosfera, who has two foals, both of whom are winners. He is by Il Doge .
For his career, the 5-year-old is 6-1-0 from 11 starts with $110,548 in earnings. He's started off well in his first full year in the United States. Following a fifth-place finish in an allowance optional claimer in his U.S. debut exactly one year ago, Planetario is 1-1-0 in two starts.