ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 26, 2021)– One of six grass races that were moved to the main track on Santa Anita’s Opening Day, Sunday, the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes went to an ultra-game Bob and Jackie, who kept to his task on the lead and prevailed by a nose over heavily favored Friar’s Road.
Ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr., Bob and Jackie, in his first ever try on dirt, was off at 5-1 and paid $12.00 and $4.20 with no show wagering. Contested at a mile and one eighth, Bob and Jackie got the distance in 1:53.51.
Trained by Richard Baltas for owners Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran, Bob and Jackie, a 5-year-old horse by Twirling Candy out of the Eskendereya mare Fateer, picked up his fourth stakes win, and depending upon how the American Stakes Committee rules in the coming days, could also have notched his first graded stakes win in a race that was originally designated at Grade II on grass.
With an overall mark of 16-5-5-1, Bob and Jackie picked up $120,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $484,631.
Off at 3-5 with Jose Ortiz, Friar’s Road, who was last in a compact field of four early, rallied, but came up just short, while paying $2.40 to place.
Fractions on the race were 23.75, 49.29, 1:13.82 and 1:40.05.
Santa Anita Park Press Release
Photo: Bob And Jackie (Santa Anita Park Photo)
