San Felipe Stakes 2016 at Santa Anita Park

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

OffTrackBetting.com - The Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes is on tap for this Saturday, March 12 from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Some of the best three year olds in the land will take to Santa Anita's dirt track and race 1 1/16 miles searching for the winner's share of the $400,000 purse and the 50-20-10-5 points scale awarded toward the Kentucky Derby in May.

A strong field of seven three year olds will take to the track in the San Felipe - race 7 on Santa Anita's packed Saturday card. Post time is 3:00 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all seven entries for this important Road to the Kentucky Derby Grade 2 stakes.

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2016 San Felipe Stakes Race Preview

Mor Spirit - Bob Baffert trained Ringling has five career starts with three wins and two second place finishes - favored in every race so far. Last time out was a terrific win in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes on this track February 6 after a nice win in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity with an impressive 96 Beyer Speed Figure December 19, a respectable second in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs November 28, a maiden score by an eye-opening 4 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita October 23 and a second in his debut in September. Mor Spirit has been a factor in every race so far and hopes to keep climbing the Derby leaderboard Saturday. He chases his third straight graded stakes score from post 3 with Gary Stevens in the reins of the likely favorite.

Exaggerator - Keith Desormeaux trained colt has three wins and two runner-up finishes in seven career starts. He arrives on the heels of a runner-up finish behind undefeated Eclipse Champion Nyquist in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes on this track February 15, a terrific win with a field best 103 Beyer Speed Figure in the Grade 3 $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot November 21 and a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Before that was a respectable second in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in October and a nice win in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special in August. Exaggerator has been in every race so far and hopes to take another step closer toward a start in the Kentucky Derby when he leaves from the outside post 7 with Kent Desormeaux in the irons.

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Smokey Image - impressive Carla Gaines trained colt has six career starts with six wins - at five different tracks! He makes his graded stakes debut off wins in the minor California Cup Derby by an impressive 8 1/2 lengths in gate-to-wire fashion here January 30, the minor Golden Gate Juvenile at Del Mar in October, the minor I'm Smokin Stakes at Del Mar in September, the minor Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes at Santa Rosa in August and the minor Everett Nevin Stakes at Oak Tree at Pleasanton in July to go along with a maiden score at first asking. He hasn't been touched so far and is expected to be competitive again Saturday from gate 6. Victor Espinoza rides.

Danzing Candy - Clifford Sise trained colt has two wins in three career starts. He makes his stakes debut Saturday off an impressive 5 3/4 length gate-to-wire Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track February 4, a maiden score here December 26 and an eighth place finish in his debut. Danzing Candy has looked good against lesser company and steps up in good form. Mike Smith has been tabbed with keeping the roll going from gate 2.

Cupid - Bob Baffert trained colt has a win and a runner-up finish in three career starts so far - all MSW races. He makes his stakes debut off a win February 7 on this track after a runner-up finish here January 9 and a fourth in his debut at Los Alamitos December 20. Cupid has been trending upward but races in top company for the first time with Martin Garcia guiding him from gate 4.

Uncle Lino - has a win, two seconds and a third place finish in four career starts for trainer Gary Sherlock. He made his stakes debut last time out and finished a respectable second behind Mor Spirit in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes here February 6 after a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming here January 3, a maiden score November 29 and a second in his debut in July. Uncle Lino been good so far in his career and will have Fernando Hernandez Perez in the reins from the rail.

I Will Score - has three career starts for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer with two wins and a third place finish. He made his stakes debut last time out and finished a decent third behind Mor Spirit and Uncle Lino on the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes here February 6. Before that was an Allowance Optional Claiming score on this track January 3 and a maiden score at first asking September 11. I Will Score has been decent so far but will be looking for his first stakes score - from post 5 with Rafael Bejarano in the reins.


2016 San Felipe Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 7 on Santa Anita's Saturday card with a Post Time of 6:04 PM.

Entry Horse ML Odds Jockey Trainer
Cupid SCRATCHED
1 Uncle Lino 8-1 Fernando Perez Gary Sherlock
2 Danzing Candy 7-2 Mike Smith Clifford Sise, Jr.
3 Mor Spirit 2-1 Gary Stevens Bob Baffert
4 I Will Score 8-1 Rafael Bejarano Jerry Hollendorfer
5 Smokey Image 7-2 Victor Espinoza Carla Gaines
6 Exaggerator 5-2 Kent Desormeaux J. Desormeaux