2 Guys and a Crown: San Felipe Stakes
Description:
Bram Weinstein and Joe Kristufek return in 2016 to take fans step by step down the Triple Crown trail. Today Churchill Downs announcer Travis Stone stands in for Bram Weinstein, and they focus on Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes where the winner earns 50 points toward a potential berth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands.
Run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, the $400,000 San Felipe is the final steppingstone to the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and it's a 50-20-10-5 points race on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
Some major stars have won this race including Kentucky Derby winners Sunday Silence (1989) and Fusaichi Pegasus (2000) as well as Point Given (2001), Medaglia d'Oro (2002) and American Pharoah's sire (father) Pioneerof the Nile (2009).
Trainer Bob Baffert, who saddles Mor Spirit and Cupid in this year's San Felipe, has won the race five times (most ever by a trainer) including with Dortmund last year, but none of those horse has gone on to win the Derby. Point Given, one of the most talented 3-year-olds in recent times, did win Preakness and Belmont.
Since 2000 three Kentucky Derby winners have exited the San Felipe—race victors Fusaichi Pegasus (2000) and California Chrome (2014) and Giacomo (second in 2005). Eight of the last 10 San Felipe winners won their start prior, six of those at Santa Anita. The last San Felipe winner to run in an allowance or maiden race in the start prior was Cobalt Blue back in 2007, which doesn't bode well for upstarts Danzing Candy or Cupid.
Joe's San Felipe Picks
#2 Danzing Candy
#3 Mor Spirit
#7 Exaggerator
#4 Cupid
Joe's San Felipe Wager
$10 win & $20 place #2 = $30
Travis's San Felipe Picks
#7 Exaggerator
#2 Danzing Candy
#3 Mor Spirit
#4 Cupid
Travis's San Felipe Wagers
$15 Win #7
$5 exacta box 2,3 with 7
$5 exacta 7 with 2,3
Joe's Kentucky Derby Top 20
1. Mohaymen
2. Nyquist
3. Mor Spirit
4. Danzing Candy
5. Exaggerator
6. Greenpointcrusader
7. Mo Tom
8. Gun Runner
9. Suddenbreakingnews
10. Smokey Image
11. Zulu
12. Brody's Cause
13. Uncle Lino
14. Cherry Wine
15. Rafting
16. Destin
17. Cupid
18. Conquest Windycity
19. Whitmore
20. Shagaf
$400,000 San Felipe Stakes
Saturday, Race 7, Santa Anita Park, 6 p.m. ET
1 1/16 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds
PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Odds
1
Uncle Lino
Fernando Hernandez Perez
Gary Sherlock
Mansor, Purple Shamrock Racing or Sherlock
8-1
2
Danzing Candy
Mike Smith
Clifford Sise Jr.
Halo Farms, Bashor or Bashor
4-1
3
Mor Spirit
Gary Stevens
Bob Baffert
Michael Lund Petersen
2-1
4
Cupid
Martin Garcia
Bob Baffert
Tabor, Magnier and Smith
12-1
5
I Will Score
Rafael Bejarano
Jerry Hollendorfer
Hans Poetsch
10-1
6
Smokey Image
Victor Espinoza
Carla Gaines
Irvin Racing Stable
4-1
7
Exaggerator
Kent Desormeaux
Keith Desormeaux
Big Chief Racing, Head of Plains Partners, Rocker O Ranch, et al
5-2