19 Abr. USA. San Simeon H. G3. Santa Anita Park. 6,5f. Downhill Turf. 100.000 $
1.- STONESIDE (M.Pedroza)
2.- NIGHT CHAPTER (B.Blanc)
3.- TENGA CAT (A.Quinonez)


French Group 1-placed multiple stakes winner Stoneside (Ire) seized command in midstretch and posted a 1 3/4-length victory in the $112,400 San Simeon Handicap (G3) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park to earn his first North American victory.

Trained by Julio Canani, Stoneside raced in fifth through a half-mile in :43.82, five lengths off the pace. Moving up to second in early stretch, the Marchand de Sable colt powered past Tenga Cat and gamely halted a six-race winless stretch.

“I had a perfect trip,” winning jockey Martin Pedroza said. “Julio didn’t want this horse on the lead today. He told me to lay about five or six lengths off the pace and to try and find somewhere to run at the top of the stretch.

“They were really high on this horse at Del Mar and Julio loved him today. We’ve had a lot of luck together.”

Giovanni (NZ) opened a clear lead with Tenga Cat stalking from second through a half-mile. Stoneside moved up near the inside rail on the turn, gained command on the inside of Tenga Cat with a determined late run, and won the about 6 1/2-furlong race on Santa Anita’s downhill course in 1:12.54 on firm turf.

Multiple stakes winner Night Chapter (GB) rallied from last in a field of 11 to secure second, a half-length in front of Tenga Cat.

Marsha Naify’s Stoneside entered off an unplaced finish in the Daytona Handicap on February 17 at Santa Anita. The bay colt previously finished third in the Oak Tree Derby (G2) on October 13 at Santa Anita.

Stoneside joined Canani’s barn after making five starts in France for trainer Rodolphe Collet. The four-year-old colt finished second in the 2007 Prix Jean Prat (Fr-G1).

Out of Greenstone, by Green Desert, Stoneside has won five of 18 career starts and increased his earnings to $353,886.