Itsinthepost Breaks Through in San Luis Rey

Red Barons Barn's Itsinthepost has been knocking on the door for some time.

Second in three of his last four starts, including two against graded competition, the son of American Post finally broke through March 25 at Santa Anita Park in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes (G2T).

With the target of favored Ashleyluvssugar in front of him through most of the 1 1/2-mile turf test, Itsinthepost stalked in second and moved alongside the frontrunning multiple grade 2 winner in the final turn.

In front turning for home longshot Syntax loomed a danger, but Itsinthepost never let the challenger cut the margin to less than a length in the stretch and maintained that margin at the wire under jockey Tyler Baze. Ashleyluvssugar was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third and held off Liam the Charmer by a head for the show spot.

Ashleyluvssugar broke the best in the field of 12 under jockey Gary Stevens and set fractions of :25.34, :48.80, 1:13.13, and 1:36.97 through a mile with a one-length advantage over the stalking Itsinthepost.

"I had four different people tell me this horse couldn't go a mile and a half," Baze said. "I've (seen Ashleyluvssugar) run so many times and I know he gets a big heart when he's able to open up by two or three (lengths) early, so I wanted to be sure he knew I was there all the way around there."

The top two were five lengths ahead of the field, but it was clear in the final bend that Itsinthepost had Ashleyluvssugar put away. The time for 1 1/4 miles went in 2:01.12 and the winner finished off the race in 2:25.43.

"Tyler rode him just the way we talked about," said winning trainer Jeff Mullins. "It unfolded just the way I thought it would. ... When 'Ashley' started sneaking away, I told Tyler to be right on his heels and he was."

Beyond Liam the Charmer came grade 2 winner Texas Ryano, Power Foot, Inordinate, Papacoolpapacool, Buster Douglas, Some in Tieme, Site Read, and Flamboyant.

Bred in France by Julien Leaunes out of the Mozart mare Sakkara Star, Itsinthepost now has a 4-6-5 record from 24 starts, with $362,712 in earnings.