Barnes romps in the San Vicente (G2) Jan. 4 at Santa Anita (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif. — Highly regarded Barnes, who has dazzled in two starts for trainer Bob Baffert, and Grade II winner Journalism headline Saturday’s Grade II, $300,000 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.
The San Felipe, which serves as the final major prep for the Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 5, is part of a blockbuster program at The Great Race Place. It will be joined by the historic GI Santa Anita Handicap for older horses, GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile on turf and GII Buena Vista for fillies and mares at a mile on turf. The San Felipe also awards the top five finishers with qualifying points to this year’s Kentucky Derby paid on a scale of 50-25-15-10-5.
For Barnes, the San Felipe will be his first time racing around two turns. He broke his maiden on debut going 5 ½ furlongs at Churchill Downs in November, then returned Jan. 4 at Santa Anita and romped by 5 ½ lengths the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs.
Since the San Vicente, Barnes has worked six times including a pair of stamina-building six furlong works at Santa Anita. He drilled the distance in 1:12.20 on Sunday at Santa Anita.
Out of All American Dream, by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Barnes was purchased as a yearling for $3.2 million by owner Zedan Racing. He will be ridden by Juan Hernandez, who was also aboard in the San Vicente.
Journalism will be making his first start as a 3-year-old. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism closed out his juvenile campaign with a win in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity going 1 1/16 miles in December. He will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who was also aboard in the Futurity.
By Curlin, Journalism is owned by Bridlewood Farm, breeder Don Alberto Stables, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners et. al. He was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $825,000 as a yearling.
Also looming for Baffert is Rodriguez, most recently second to champion Citizen Bull in the GIII Robert B. Lewis going a mile Feb. 1 at Santa Anita. The Authentic colt, a $485,000 auction buy, previously romped to a seven-length maiden win when stretched out to a mile in his second start Jan. 4 at Santa Anita. Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et. al, Rodriguez will have top rider Flavien Prat aboard for the first time.
As part of the 1/ST Racing Tour, the San Felipe will be aired nationally on CNBC and streamed on Peacock. Coverage starts at 1 p.m. PT.
THE GII SAN FELIPE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 8 of 11 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT
- Mellencamp – Mike Smith – 120
- Journalism – Umberto Rispoli – 124
- Barnes – Juan Hernandez – 120
- Rodriguez – Flavien Prat – 120
- Smooth Cruisein – Ricardo Gonzalez – 120
- Berlin Wall – Tiago Pereira – 120
First post Saturday is 12 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 10 a.m.
