San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Dave Bond

Las Vegas, NV -- The 75th running of the $300,000 Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes comes our way from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California this Saturday March 10th. The race covers 1 1/16 miles on Santa Anita's main dirt track and features three year olds trying to position themselves for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby in April and more importantly for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5th.

10 quality entries will take to the track in race 9 on Santa Anita's Saturday schedule with a post time of 4:38 PM PST. The field includes multiple graded stakes winners and could be one of the best groups of three year olds to start in the same race in 2012. The winner of the San Felipe will certainly be in the Triple Crown chatter - even the losers may gain a little credibility on Saturday.

Here is a breakdown of the 10 entries and what has brought them to the super competitive San Felipe.

San Felipe Stakes Race Favorites

Liaison - Liaison enters the San Felipe with high aspirations after clipping heels before falling in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Sill, Liaison is an early favorite to contend for the Kentucky Derby crown and with win at the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity for trainer Bob Baffert on December 17th and the Real Quiet Stakes on November 12th at Hollywood Park; Liaison has to be considered a serious favorite. In five career starts, Liaison has won three times and finished third once.

San Felipe Stakes horse betting at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Creative Cause - Creative Cause is the most intriguing horse in this race but has finished third in the last two starts - at the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on February 19th and at the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs in November. Prior to that won the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita and the 6 1/2 furlong Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar. Trainer Mike Harrington's colt comes into the race with a ton of hype, three wins, one second and two third place finishes in six career starts.

Rousing Sermon - Most recently, Rousing Sermon lost his rider and finished third in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Before that Rousing Sermon finished second to Liaison at the CashCall in December in a race that he almost won. He also finished second to Liaison in the Real Quiet Stakes. As a two-year-old, Rousing Sermon won twice, finished second twice and finished third twice in six starts. Rousing Sermon won the Bob Benoit California Cup Juvenile Stakes on October 29th at Santa Anita and could be a serious threat in the San Felipe.

Remaining Field Entries

Empire Way - Has one win in four career starts. Most recently Empire Way finished second in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes and before that was fifth in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity and a sixth in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes both at Hollywood Park.

Midnight Transfer - After a slow career start Midnight Transfer has won two races in a row - the San Pedro Stakes on January 22nd and a Maiden Special Weight race on December 26th both at Santa Anita.

American Act - finished a very impressive second last time out in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes on February 12th at Santa Anita and before that broke maiden on January 16th at Santa Anita over the very impressive Bob Baffert trained Bodemeister. American Act also finished second in a Maiden Special Weight at Hollywood Park in December. American Act has a win and a second in four career starts.

Bodemeister - Bob Baffert trained Bodemeister has looked very impressive in two career starts but takes a huge step up in competition in the San Felipe. Bodemeister won a Maiden Special Weight race last time out on February 11th and was second in a similar race on January 16th both at Santa Anita.

Blingo - Blingo was an impressive winner in her first career start in November but finished 6th in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on December 17th.

Groovin' Solo - five career starts and only one win to show for it - a Maiden Special Weight race at Santa Anita December 30th. Last time out Groovin` Solo was 7th in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes on February 4th.

Tiz Point - won an Allowance race here on February 18th last out and before that was 4th in an Allowance Optional Claiming race January 26th.


San Felipe Stakes Entries

Race 9 on Santa Anita's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:38 PM PT.

Post Horse Jockey Trainer
1 Blingo M. Smith J. Shirreffs
2 Bodemeister R. Bejarano B. Baffert
3 American Act M. Pedroza J. Carava
4 Midnight Transfer V. Espinoza C. Gaines
5 Groovin' Solo A. Quinonez M. Cho
6 Liaison M. Garcia B. Baffert
7 Creative Cause J. Rosario M. Harrington
8 Rousing Sermon J. Talamo J. Hollendorfer
9 Tiz Point G. Gomez R. Mandella
10 Empire Way B. Blanc M. Harrington