After days of heavy rain in the Southern California area, there’s a good chance the Sunday skies will be clear by the 3:16 post time for the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2), a 9-furlong turf test that drew a field of 11 top older runners.
It is one of the few stakes at Santa Anita run in the first season of racing back in 1935, still being contested today. It is one of the early preps to the historic San Juan Capistrano (G2), which takes place in April and was once the traditional end-of-meet stakes before the winter meet dates were extended.
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The San Gabriel was, however, contested over the main track until 1954. It has also been contested at varying distances – 3 furlongs in 1935, 1937, 1938 and for 2-year-olds; 6 furlongs in 1945 and 1946 and for 3-year-olds; 7 furlongs from 1952 through 1954, contested as the San Gabriel Stakes for 3-year-olds; 9 furlongs from 1960 to present; and 10 furlongs from 1955 through 1959.
The race has been contested twice in six of its years in January and then again in December 1973, 1980, 1988, 1997, 2001, and 2006. It was run in two divisions in 1984. The race was transferred to the dirt track in 1972, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1987, 1988, 2005 and 2008.
There was no race in 1936, 1939–1944, 1947–1951, 1970, 1976, 1982, 1991, 1999, and 2004.
Hall of Famer Charlie Whittingham saddled eight winners throughout his illustrious career, and Rafael Bejarano is the race’s top jock with six winners.
Some of the more famous names to have won the San Gabriel throughout the years include Determine, Cougar II, John Henry, In Excess, Star of Cozzene, Irish Prize, Redattore, Badge of Silver and three-time winner Jeranimo.
Astronomer is a 6-year-old gelding by Air Force Blue who is a bona fide stalker who prefers to be positioned close to the pace and pounce late. As the 9-2 morning-line favorite with solid form, though he hasn’t picked up a win in 2025, he’s produced solid form in competitive graded efforts.
The Simon Callaghan trainee is well-suited to the distance, and if jockey Antonio Fresu can keep him in contention, his consistency makes him a logical top pick in a balanced field.
Suchet is a 4-year-old gelding by Cloth of Stars, trained by John Sadler, with a closing running style who often rallies from mid-pack or farther back with a strong finish on turf. He’s shown promise in his four starts stateside, including a nice allowance win last out at Del Mar seven weeks ago. Post 7 allows for his flexibility in running style, and if the pace is honest, his kick could carry him to victory in what looks like a wide-open event.
St Anthony is a 6-year-old gelding trained by Neil Drysdale. His past performances show he’s well-traveled but hasn’t traveled to the winner’s circle too often in his 28-race career. St Anthony’s running style seems to be versatile but leans toward mid-pack stalking, allowing him to adapt to pace scenarios in mile races, but the distance and class jump is a bit of a question, though he’s certainly playable for all exotics.
Stay Hot, who is trained by Peter Eurton, has been consistent in turf stakes overall, but doesn’t connect for a win too often. He finished 6th in the 1 1/16-mile Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) at Del Mar after a pair of seconds in the 1 1/4-mile John Henry Turf Championship (G2) at Santa Anita, 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap (G2) at Del Mar. He did win the Texas Turf Classic Stakes at Lone Star in June. His running style is that of a stalker-closer, often positioning mid-pack before making a strong late bid to be in the mix at the finish. A strong pace up front only helps his chances.
Cabo Spirit is a 6-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, trained by George Papapadromou, known for his frontrunning style, setting the pace and proving tough to pass when he gets an easy lead, as seen in recent gate-to-wire wins like the American Stakes over this course back in April. With Mike Smith aboard, post 9 might require an early push, but second off the layoff could see improvement; he’s dangerous if allowed to dictate terms up front.
Twirling Point is a 4-year-old gelding trained by Jonathan Thomas. His recent past performances show a mix of stakes and allowance races, with improving Beyer speed figures. In his most recent start, he finished fifth in a 1 3/8-mile turf allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar, and prior to that, he was fifth in the 1 1/2-mile Colonial Cup stakes at Colonial Downs. Last year’s Jersey Derby winner typically shows a stalking running style, positioning himself mid-pack early before making a late move, though he has struggled to close strongly in higher-class races.
Michael W. McCarthy trains the 5-year-old gelding Mondego, who has struggled in three stakes appearances in his last three starts. Most recently finished seventh in the 1 1/2-mile Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) at Del Mar and was fourth in the 1 1/4-mile John Henry Turf Championship (G2) at Santa Anita, and fifth in the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap (G2) over the summer. His form suggests he is competitive in mid-level stakes, and the England-bred’s running style appears to be that of a mid-pack stalker, often settling in the middle before trying to rally, though lately he has not been able to sustain his efforts.
McCarthy also trains the 4-year-old Endlessly and the well-traveled son of Oscar Performance has a history of success on turf as a juvenile and on synthetic surfaces last year but has struggled recently in mostly stakes and is winless in six starts over the past 18 months. As a sophomore he won races like the El Camino Real Derby and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G2) but was a dismal ninth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and this year his connections went searching for a home back on the turf with mixed results. Endlessly’s running style is typically that of a closer, coming from off the pace to make a late run, which suits longer turf distances like this one. He’s blinkers off for this race, which is surely an effort to relax him early.
Eurton will also send Nesso’s Lastharrah, a 4-year-old colt by Sharp Azteca, who shows early speed as a potential front-runner or presser. His stakes debut was a fifth-place finish in the Eddie D where he flattened late and he followed it up with an uninspiring fifth in the Lure Stakes over this course last out. With long odds reflecting inconsistent form, he might try to wire the field, but in this deeper group, he’s up against it. Still, if he gets loose on the lead, he could hang on for a minor award at a price.
Flashiest owns a mid-pack to closing running style, a steady grinder rather than one who flashes a lot of speed. The 7-year-old gelding’s long odds suggest he’s an underdog, but he’s hit the board in stakes before. From the outer post, he will need luck to avoid a wide trip, making him a possible exotic player if the favorites falter.
Nineeleventurbo marks a second entry for Hall of Famer Drysdale, and the 8-year-old gelding by More Than Ready often employs a front-running or pressing style, using early speed to gain position. He hasn’t won a race since 2023 but has placed in several tough contests and with experience in graded company, he is capable on his day but drew a tough outer post. Hector Berrios will need to hustle early, and if he can clear or sit close without dueling, he could factor at decent odds.
The picks: 1 Astronomer 2 Suchet 3 St Anthony
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
