Marcos Footwear Handicap

The first graded stakes on the card this Saturday in California is the Marcos Footwear Handicap (G2), over a mile and a quarter on the turf. The race is set to go off at a post time of 2:05 pm EST and has drawn a field of ten to compete for the $375,000 purse. Open to four-year-olds and up, the field looks like it is evenly matched for the ten-furlong race, set to go off over a firm track. Let’s take a look at the field for this years’ race. 

1. This Is Vengeance (ENG) – sydneyswan3 – W. Kewmwa – 15/1 

This English-bred colt is out of the multiple Grade I winning broodmare Roses of Purple and will be going into the race as the longshot of the field. Most recently the bay son of Dubawi (IRE) started here in California during an allowance race over nine furlongs, which the colt won in wire-to-wire fashion by two and a quarter lengths with a speed figure of one hundred sixteen, a lifetime best speed figure for the colt. The most recent graded start for the colt came in August of his three-year-old season where he would finish fifth, seven and three-quarter lengths off the pace in The Queen’s Dish (G1) over a mile and a quarter in Canada.  

2. Kent Starlegend (IRE) – kentred – R. Wisniewski – 5/1 

Next up will be the Irish-bred six-year-old gelding by Sea The Stars who will be making his graded stakes debut this weekend. The bay gelding has made twenty-three lifetime starts, most recently overseas in Thailand during a listed stakes race at a mile and a quarter. He won this race after breaking towards the rear of the field; roaring down the stretch to cross the wire a length and a quarter in front with a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred seventeen. He also won his prior start, another listed stakes at a mile and three-eighths. This will also be the colt’s first start in the US after primarily racing in Germany. 

3. Kymare Thamy (GER) – ceresauctions – J. Piotrowski – 9/2 

Another gelding will be going into the gate for the first time in a graded stakes next in the field. The light grey five-year-old is lightly raced with just eighteen career starts and is coming off three consecutive wins. The most recent of these starts was in a listed stakes over a mile and a quarter. The gelding was out of the gate towards the rear of the field and started to make his move late in the stretch. He went on to win by a neck and equal a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred fifteen. His prior start, also a listed stakes, this time in Arizona also saw the gelding come home in the stretch for the win by three and one-quarter lengths. The third race in his string of three consecutive wins was an allowance race in Louisiana over ten furlongs. 

4. Cray Frankel (ENG) – dmbwr – N. Lawton – 4/1 

The only million-dollar earner to go into the gate this Saturday, the five-year-old bay horse is out of a Grade III winning broodmare, Cray One , and is sired by top sire Frankel (GB). The most recent start for the horse, going into the gate for the twenty-first time this weekend, was in the King Kong Cup overseas in Hong Kong over a mile and one quarter on the turf. Breaking out of the gate just off the pace in second, the horse would be caught by the pack down the stretch to finish eighth, setting a speed figure of one hundred nine. Prior to this the horse won two consecutive starts, The McKinnon (G1) at a mile and a quarter in Australia, and a listed stakes in France over a mile and five-sixteenths. The start this weekends will be the horses first start in the States. 

5. Charitable Gesture (IRE) – ozzybred1 – J. Djozd – 11/1 

Also making his first start in the United States in the next gate, this five-year-old horse is out of the Grade I winning and million-dollar earning broodmare Run Through Fire. The most recent start for the bay horse came in Australia during the two mile Millwood Cup (G1). The son of Shamardal broke out of the gate towards the middle of the pack, but faded in the latter portion of the race to finish thirty-six lengths off the pace in sixteenth. Prior to this the horse had started over the same distance in France during The Gladiator (G3). The horse was much more forwardly placed in this start, second out of the gate, and went on to win the race impressively by four lengths. The horse will be cut back in distance this weekend, but it is a distance the Irish-bred has excelled at before. 

6. Krispin (IRE) – waybil – D. Givins – 8/1 

Midway through this weekend’s field, the next horse will be this five-year-old bay gelding who will be returning to graded racing after an initial first try with last year. By Gleneagles, the bay gelding most recently started in December during an allowance race over nine furlongs. Breaking towards the rear of the field at the gate, the gelding went on to win the race by one and three-quarter lengths, setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred sixteen. The only graded start to date for the gelding was in July of last year during The Dancing North Cup (G2) at a mile and a half in Canada. After setting out of the gate just off the pace in third, the gelding would cross the wire in sixth.  

7. The Legend Within – teacherlay10 – V. Jennings – 9/1 

The first of only two starters to go to the gate this weekend bred in the United States, this four-year-old colt is sired by Triple Crown winner Justify and is a listed stakes winner with just ten lifetime starts under his belt. The bay Kentucky-bred most recently started in a nine furlong listed stakes race in Illinois. Breaking out of the gate just off the pace in third, the colt maintained his position throughout the race and crossed the wire where he started in positioning, just two lengths off the pace and equaling a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred seventeen. The colt had achieved this personal record in his prior start, a listed stakes in Ohio over nine and a half furlongs, after breaking just off the pace in second before taking over the lead to win by three and a half lengths.  

8. Celtic B – jakematt0 – A. Jolly – 4/1 

Next up we have the only other United States bred horse in the field, the six-year-old bay gelding hailing from Florida. The son of Black Onyx is an accomplished Grade II winner and consistent runner. The most recent start for the gelding came in South Africa during the Jolly Summer Cup (G1) over a mile and a quarter. The gelding broke towards the rear of the field out of the gate, but quickly began to pick off other horses throughout the race. The gelding would finish just off the board in fourth, one and a half lengths back, while setting a speed figure of one hundred thirteen. The most recent win for the gelding was in February of last year in New Zealand during The Second Coming (G2), over the same distance. The gelding was a little more forwardly placed in fifth out of the gate in this race, going on to win by two lengths. 

9. Ryans Rank (GB) – mikeg – 11/1 – E. Siefert 

The second horse in the field to be sired by Frankel (GB), this four-year-old colt is graded placed but is still looking for his first graded victory. The bay colt has had his two most recent starts here in California, most recently in The Los Angeles Derby (G2) at a mile and a quarter. Breaking towards the rear of the field out of the starting gate, the colt began to make his move midway through the race, crossing the wire narrowly beaten by a neck and setting a speed figure of one hundred nine. The most recent win for the colt came during an allowance race in Kentucky over nine furlongs last August. 

10. Sorry About Nandos (AUS) – deyoto – W. Desantis 

Last to load into the gate at post time will be this four-year-old Australian bred colt by Dundeel (NZ). The bay colt is graded placed, but seeking out his first graded win. Most recently starting in his home country in the Coxless Stakes (G1) over a mile and a quarter, the colt came flying out of the gate into second just behind the front runner, briefly gained the lead midway through, only to be caught by a couple of late chargers down the stretch to finish third, though setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred twelve. The most recent win for the colt was in an allowance race over the same distance in Arkansas, which the colt took in wire-to-wire fashion by two and a quarter. 

Flrancho’s Picks 

Win: Celtic B 

Place: Sorry About Nandos (AUS) 

Show: Ryans Rank (GB)