The $500,000 San Antonio Stakes February 7 at Santa Anita may only be a grade 2 event, but the race has easily drawn the most competitive and accomplished field of 2014 with three standout grade 1 winners: California Chrome, Shared Belief, and Hoppertunity.
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome is the 6/5 morning line favorite in the field of nine. While his resume speaks for itself, the four-time grade 1 winning colt has been particularly good over the Santa Anita dirt winning the California Cup Derby, the San Felipe, and the Santa Anita Derby. His only defeat at Santa Anita came in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic where he finished a game third. Regular pilot Victor Espinoza will be aboard the 2014 Eclipse Award Horse of the Year.
Shared Belief (7/5) suffered the only loss of his nine race career in the Breeders’ Cup Classic where a brutal trip resulted in a fourth place finish – well behind California Chrome. Also a four-time grade 1 winner, the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee rebounded nicely after the loss to win the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes December 26 at Santa Anita. Shared Belief has earned over $2 million in his impressive career, and will vie for post time favoritism with California Chrome in an excellent matchup.
Despite the talent and credentials of the top two betting choices, Hoppertunity (4/1) has a legitimate chance to win the San Antonio. A grade 1 winner and million dollar earner in his own right, Hoppertunity has won back-to-back graded stakes races.
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