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San Juan Capistrano Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano Stakes will go down at Santa Anita Park this Sunday, June 29. Horses three years old and upward will take part in this marathon as they saddle up and go 1 3/4 miles on Santa Anita's turf track for a purse of $200,000.

The San Juan Capistrano has attracted a field of nine marathoners to go in race 8 on Santa Anita's Sunday card. Post time is 4:30 PM> Here is a look into the past performances of all nine entries for this Grade 2 stakes - none of which have ever raced this distance.

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2014 San Juan Capistrano Stakes Race Favorite Entries

Quick Casablanca - Ronald McAnally trained Argentinean trained entry had 11 starts in South America with three wins, six seconds and two third place finishes. He won two of his last three starts in Chile before shipping to North America including a Grade 1 race at Hipodromo Argentino De Palmero last March. He has seven starts in North America with mixed results. He made his 2014 debut April 25 on this track and broke through with a terrific win over Fire With Fire in the Grade 3 Last Tycoon Stakes. He followed that with an OK third last time out behind Fire With Fire in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes May 24. In 2013 he had a fifth in the minor Slew O' Gold Stakes at Aqueduct November 17, an OK fourth in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes in September, a third behind Hyper in the minor John's Call Stakes at Saratoga July 31, an eighth in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap June 7 and a third in the minor Good Reward Stakes also in May. Quick Casablanca has placed in four of seven North American starts and hopes to build on two good efforts the last two months. Joe Talamo rides the most accomplished entry in the field from post 8.

Irish Surf - had a two race win streak last summer including a MSW in July but has failed to place in his last seven starts overall. He is coming off an OK fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes here May 24 after a fourth and a fifth respectively in a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races here this year. Last year Irish Surf had an OK fourth in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup, a ninth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, a seventh in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby in November and a ninth in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship in September. He has just two wins, a second and four third place finishes in 17 career starts and could enjoy the extra distance in this one. He has been racing in top company for the last year or so and will have Elvis Trujillo has the mount from post 3.

San Juan Capistrano Stakes 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Black Spirit - Dean Greenman pupil started and raced most of his career in Europe where he had four wins, including a Group III in England at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Sept. 22, 2012, two seconds and three third place finishes. He failed to place in his first three starts in North America but has caught fire of late - three straight wins at distance on turf ahead of this weekend - an Allowance last time out June 15, an Allowance Optional Claiming May 17 and a Claiming in April - all results at Golden Gate. Black Spirit enters in the best for of his career although his best work comes at one mile and will have Kent Desormeaux in the reins from post 7.

Lideris - will make his North American debut for trainer Peter Miller. He is coming off a good win in the Grade 1 win in Peru March 15 after a second and a fifth in stakes action on that same track to start his year. He also ended 2013 with a Grade 2 score - the Clasico Hipodromo de Monterrico. Lideris was successful at home and hopes are that his success translates to North America. He is also entered in the Gold Cup on Saturday - if he starts Sunday he will go from gate 2.

San Juan Capistrano Stakes betting online at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com

American Act - had a pair of good seconds in graded stakes action in 2012 including the Grade 2 San Vicente and the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Memorial but has not run a stakes race since. He has five starts with year with a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming three back and a second in a Claiming in March to show for it. He has 21 career starts with just two wins, five seconds and two third place finishes and enters in sketchy form. American Act will be looking for his first win since April, 2012 (15 starts) when he lines up in post 6 with martin Garcia aboard.

Starspangled Heat - has just one career graded stakes start which resulted in a fifth in the Grade 2 City of Hope Stakes here in October and has placed in just one of four starts since - that being an Allowance Optional Claiming score here October 26. Starspangled Heat has one start in 2014 - a sixth in the minor Albany Stakes at Golden Gate June 14 which followed a seventh in the minor On Trust Handicap at Hollywood Park in November. He has 32 career starts with five wins, four seconds and nine third place finishes and enters in less-than-spectacular form with Corey Nakatani in the saddle from the outside post.

Big Kick - Ontario bred gelding will make his stakes debut Sunday off a nice gate-to-wire Allowance Optional Claiming score at a mile and a quarter on turf on this track June 13, a pair of fourths and a Claiming score in March. He steps up in competition having recorded four wins, two seconds and a third place finish in 18 career starts with Victor Espinoza in the saddle from post 5./p>

Dr Action - Argentinean bred Peter Miller trained gelding is a two-time Group II winner in Peru and makes just his third start on North American soil - his first was a seventh in the minor Thunder Road Stakes here April 6 and his second was another seventh - last time out in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on this track May 26. At home he was very good - four wins and a third place finish in six starts. The wins include the Clasico Gustavo Prado Heudebert - Gr. 2 and the Clasico Postin - Gr. 2 in November. He will start from gate 4 post with Martin Pedroza guiding him.

Bailoutbobby - Doug O'Neill trained gelding makes his first start in graded stakes company Sunday off a second in an Allowance May 24 and a win in a Starter Allowance May 8. He has four wins, a second and two third place finishes in 16 career starts and steps up in so-so form. Mike Smith has the mount from the inside post Sunday.

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