Subsanador Makes North American Debut in San Antonio

The San Antonio Stakes (G2), a traditional prep for the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 2 drew an intriguing collection of contenders, from an Argentinian sensation to a speedy Cal-bred sprinter.

The $200,000 Dec. 26 contest for older horses drew one contestant from last year's race, the Ed Moger Jr.-trained Stilleto Boy , who was second to Country Grammer   in the 2022 edition.

While the 5-year-old Stilleto Boy, victorious in the Big Cap earlier this year, finds himself on the comeback trail following three disappointing efforts, there are plenty of live rivals entering the San Antonio with recent good form.

Irish-bred Salesman , a stakes performer in France, joined trainer Richard Mandella's barn this past spring and after two unplaced tries on the turf, showed a knack for the dirt surface for owner Wertheimer & Frere. The 6-year-old Dubawi  gelding put on an electrifying performance on the Breeders' Cup Championship Saturday undercard, roaring to 8 1/4-length gate-to-wire victory in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2).

Carrying the co-highweight of 125 pounds, along with South American invader Subsanador , Salesman cuts back noticeably in trip from 1 5/8 miles to the 1 1/16 miles of the San Antonio, where he may not enjoy the easy front-running trip he enjoyed in the TAA.  

Mike Smith has the call on Salesman.

Two horses that are certain to oppose Salesman on the front end are Newgrange  and Brickyard Ride . Newgrange, a multiple graded stakes winner on the Southern California circuit, faded to finish third behind Mr Fisk  in the Native Diver Stakes (G3) after grabbing the lead turning for home. The Native Diver was Newgrange's second outing since getting a seven-month freshening.

Brickyard Ride, a horse with an affinity for Santa Anita Park (he's 10 for 15 over the Arcadia, Calif., main track), will attempt to add to his graded stakes C.V. with an elusive win around two turns. The California-bred horse, blessed with tremendous front-running speed, has only once traveled over a mile, resulting in a solid third-place showing in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap (G2) this summer.

The 6-year-old son of Clubhouse Ride  has been breezing longer works in the morning, putting in three consecutive six-furlong drills leading into Tuesday's race. His latest move Dec. 18 was clocked in a bullet 1:12 4/5 for trainer Craig Anthony Lewis.

If no one goes with Brickyard Ride early, it's likely the horse and rider Umberto Rispoli will attempt to steal the San Antonio on the front end in a classic game of catch me if you can.

The mystery horse in the six-horse field is the Argentinian import Subsanador. A three-time group 1 winner in his native country, the Fortify  colt was sent to trainer John Sadler in the fall and has been given time to acclimate to his new barn.

Unraced since winning the 1 1/8-mile Peru (G2) in July, his farthest race in 12 trips to the post, the 4-year-old secured the services of Flavien Prat. The last time Prat and Sadler teamed up with a talented older horse, the pair embarked on a fairytale journey with the brilliant 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline  .