The Grade 3 San Marcos, a 10 furlong race which begins on the downhill turf course and crosses onto the main one, is a distinguished race amongst all stakes run at Santa Anita.
Inaugurated in 1952, the race was the first graded stakes on turf to be awarded to Santa Anita. Once a mile on the turf, the San Marcos has since moved to the classic 10 furlong distance. The past winners - especially the human winners - is a bevy of the most important players in Southern California’s storied horse racing history.
Defending champ trainer Michael McCarthy has won 3 of the last 4; he has a pair of runners in this year’s field. Let’s meet all the runners, and put together our weekly wager. If you’re wagering on Santa Anita, check out our friends at AmWager! They have a 100% deposit match up to $150 for new customers.
Grade 3 San Marcos. 1 ¼ miles, turf. 4+up. $100,000.
1. Endlessly. 12/1. Jockey: Ricardo Gonzalez. Trainer: Michael McCarthy.
Endlessly is one of the grand what-ifs of the last few years, a super-talented start to his 3-year-old season highlighted by a start in the Kentucky Derby. He’s a turf horse, they tell us, so he’s been back on the turf ever since his run for the roses in May of 2024. He’s yet to finish better than 3rd, and 3 ½ lengths off the winner since then. He’s a toss until he isn’t - and hey - ship him east so he can run on the synthetic courses.
Comment: toss until he isn’t.
2. Smooth Salute. 50/1. Jockey: Victor Espinoza. Trainer: Alfredo Marquez.
Smooth Salute’s best win was in a $25,000 claimer.
Comment: toss.
3. Grogu. 20/1. Jockey: Diego Herrera. Trainer: Leonard Powell.
Grogu’s first try at graded stakes company came in November, where he tried the 12 furlong Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar. This is less of an ask - in distance - than that race was. I’m interested to see if he’s able to run better against this field. I think he’s up against it as far as winning, but he’s got a shot to hit the board.
Comment: toss.
4. Truly Quality. 3/1. Jockey: Mike Smith. Trainer: Jonathan Thomas.
True Quality was on a tear in California - back-to-back wins in the aforementioned Hollywood Turf Cup in ‘24 and ‘25, before a trip to Sam Houston where he encountered a wet, yielding course. If you draw a line through the yielding course in Houston, you’ve got the most consistent runner in this field. He has 4 stakes win in 6 tries, at 3 different tracks under 4 different jockeys. Mike Smith will try to make it 5 - and he’s got more than a puncher’s chance.
Comment: include.
5. Mondego. 8/1. Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo. Trainer: Michael McCarthy.
Mondego is an honest runner, showing up every race. He’s yet to break through in stakes company, but trainer Michael McCarthy has won this race 3 of the last 4 years. He’s the deepest of deep closers, but the booking of jockey Emisael Jaramillo may be an indication they’d like him closer to the pace. Simply: I think there are too many good horses ahead of him, regardless of how well he closes.
Comment: can hit the board.
6. Twirling Point. 15/1. Jockey: Antonio Fresu. Trainer: Jonathan Thomas.
Twirling Point won the listed Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park in June of 2024. Since then, he’s to record even a 2nd place finish. I simply think this is too far, and the competition too much.
Comment: toss.
7. Stay Hot. 7/2. Jockey: Juan Hernandez. Trainer: Peter Eurton.
Stay Hot’s best runs tend to be ones that end with Gold Phoenix winning by the slimmest of margins - and yet he’s a major contender here. Stay Hot has 3 wins and 3 seconds in 8 lifetime starts at Santa Anita, and with Juan Hernandez up, sky’s the limit.
Comment: contender.
8. Flashiest. 15/1. Jockey: Armando Ayuso. Trainer: Leonard Powell.
Flashiest is a plodder, one that simply can run forever. His best showing reflects this fact, a solid 2nd in the 12 furlong Hollywood Turf Cup. He fell too far back in his most recent start, leaving far too much running to do. Should he repeat his Turf Cup form, he’s a candidate to hit the board.
Comment: toss.
9. Gold Phoenix. 9/5. Jockey: Kazushi Kimura. Trainer: Phil D’Amato.
Gold Phoenix is a great reminder that just because a horse didn’t compete in a meaningful way as a 2- and 3-year-old, he can still have a great career. Gold Phoenix broke his maiden early in his 3-year-old year, but was off until January of 2022, where he remained winless stateside until April. That year, he won the first of 4 consecutive Del Mar Handicaps - easily the record - and one that stands today. He’s good, not great, at Santa Anita, but is the best of this group.
Comment: include.
The Sporting Tribune Wager:
$3 Pick 3, starts race 5 ($36): 1,3,8,9 / 2 / 4,7,9. Good Luck!
