Post-Race Review
As expected, Pioneerof the Nile took the top spot in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) but had to work a little in the stretch to defeat a field of five rivals. Only one horse, Kelly Leak, scratched, despite speculation that most of the field would exit the race due to Pioneerof the Nile. The son of Empire Maker won by 1 1/4 lengths over Feisty Suances and Jeranimo, topping a $7.00 exacta and $36.10 trifecta.
Garrett Gomez rides for trainer Bob Baffert and Zayat Stables. Pioneerof the Nile stopped the clock in 1:43.35 for the mile and a sixteenth distance. The Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) on April 4th will be Pioneerof the Nile’s final prep race for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Pre-Race Analysis
Seven horses are entered for Saturday’s $200,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) but even fewer could start due to the presence of California’s leading Kentucky Derby contender, Pioneerof the Nile. Three wins in six starts lifetime, including December’s CashCall Futurity (gr. I) and the February Robert B. Lewis (gr. II) pad Pioneerof the Nile’s career. Garrett Gomez will ride the son of Empire Maker for the third straight time, and will hope to add to the Bob Baffert trainee’s earnings of $664,200.
Kelly Leak has the best chance to upset the heavy favorite. The Runaway Groom colt is coming off an allowance win going one mile on the turf on February 22nd. Prior to that effort, Kelly Leak was third in the Sunshine Millions Dash at Gulfstream Park and second in the Eddie Logan Stakes, also on the turf. Victor Espinoza is slated to ride.
Shafted is a well-bred Mineshaft colt from the Mark Casse barn and finished 8th behind Pioneerof the Nile in the Robert B Lewis. Before that disappointing finish, Shafted won a 1 1/16 mile allowance race on the main track on February 7th under Joel Rosario, who will ride today. The San Felipe is also 1 1/16 miles.
Fiesty Suances could be dangerous if let loose on the lead. Fourth behind Chocolate Candy in the California Derby on January 17th, Feisty Suances won three straight last fall for trainer Darrell Vienna but has not yet captured a stakes race.
New Bay is a son of Cuvee trained by Richard Mandella. The three-year-old has won two races in a row, a maiden and an allowance. New Bay last raced on February 16th and has never run further than seven furlongs.
He’s Really Big and Jeranimo, the two colts most likely to start against Pioneerof the Nile, are 30 – 1 and 20 – 1 respectively. He’s Really Big has won two straight races, including a 1 1/16 mile allowance on February 22nd, and Jeranimo took a maiden race on January 31st racing six furlongs.
