Free San Antonio Stakes Past Performances (2018)
(Free past performances for Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at Santa Anita)
Battle of Midway vs. Dabster in Rematch
The field for the G2 San Antonio Stakes on the Malibu undercard at Santa Anita on Wednesday is another rematch race between the top two finishers of the Native Diver.
Battle of Midway, who prevailed by a neck over Dabster in what was essentially a match race in the Native Diver, returns seeking his third win in a row on the West Coast, and fifth win at Santa Anita. He’s sitting on a best of sixty bullet work and hard to see how he doesn’t repeat in here with the cutback in distance. But this is the type of race where you want to create ways for him to get beat — or don’t play.
The aforementioned Dabster was twenty-six clear of the only other horse in the Native Diver. He is sitting on bullets for Baffert but the cutback won’t be as much an advantage given his need to lead. And with some added speed in the form of Gift Box, Air Strike, and possibly Pitino, the pressure should prove too much to hold off the late comers.
Equipment Changes
Blinkers were added to the Gift Box game plan three races back and helped him earn his third career win last time out in an OCNW2X at Aqueduct. Note, that race was in March, and he’s only had two starts in ’18 all total. He’s another who’s been working up a storm at Santa Anita, and there’s a reason why Rosario will ride.
At 30-1 in the morning line is three-year-old Pitino. Trained by Doug O’Neill for Zedan Racing Stables, Pitino will be making his second start since the addition of blinkers led to a front-running maiden score going five furlongs at Del Mar last month. Expect him to be sent briskly from the rail position. He has faced older runners in each of last five and has a couple of one mile starts to his credit.
Free San Antonio Stakes PPs
Free San Antonio Stakes past performances courtesy of Brisnet.
