How to bet the San Pasqual Stakes

A talented field of seven will travel nine panels on the Santa Anita dirt in Saturday’s $200,000 San Pasqual S. (G2). The John Shirreffs-trained #3 Express Train captured this race in both 2021 and 2022, and I will tab the eight-year-old for his third tally in the contest. 

San Pasqual Wagers

• $20 win #3 Express Train ($20)
• $5 exacta key box 3 with 4,5 ($20)
• 50-cent trifecta 3,5 with 3,4,5 with all ($10)

Express Train is winless from six starts since eclipsing the 2022 Santa Anita H. (G1), but the son of Union Rags has battled injuries along the way and will race second time off the layoff to string races together for the first time in a while. The bay was well placed in the lane before being outfinished when fourth in the recent Laffit Pincay, Jr. S. (G2), and he will improve having one under his belt while also getting more ground with which to work.

The Kentucky-bred has won or placed in 11 of 14 runs on the surface, and he also shows a solid 6-2-1-2 record at the distance, as well. He has banked in excess of $1.5 million in his lifetime to date, and I expect him to add to that total on Saturday. Express Train lands in a cast with an abundance of early foot and will settle off the contested tempo prior to being asked for his best inside the final furlong. Hector Berrios accepts the mount.

#5 Imagination does his best work at The Great Race Place for conditioner Bob Baffert, evidenced by his 6-2-3-1 local mark. The Grade 2 winner doesn’t need the lead in order to succeed, and he was last seen checking in a nice third in the Malibu S. (G1) at seven panels on opening day. This Into Mischief four-year-old has just a pair of wins from 11 lifetime appearances, but he has run some big races against top company and is a fine fit in this field. Diego Herrera has the call and will have the colt close while in the second flight early on. 

I’m not in love with the Doug O’Neill-conditioned #4 Katonah in general, but the chestnut has a lot of ability and the shape of the race will be in his favor, so he merits inclusion in the vertical exotics. The six-year-old gelding has earned three of his four career tallies at this venue and the late runner will have a lot of tired legs in front of him in the stretch, as well. I expect Tiago Pereira to take the son of Klimt back early before making one run in the lane to grab a minor award under the wire.