How to bet the San Luis Rey Stakes

A talented field of eight will travel 1 1/2 grassy miles at Santa Anita in Saturday’s $100,000 San Luis Rey (G3). I liked #5 Mondego (6-1) some in his San Marcos (G3) upset on the course at 1 1/4 miles last time out and will come right back with the son of the powerful Lope de Vega. Trained by Michael McCarthy, the gelding arrived in the Golden State in June and has had some mixed results since, but his last pair of runs have been very good. His third-place result in the San Gabriel (G3) at nine panels two back was a smart effort at a distance that is less than his best, and he was pretty convincing to me last time out when topping a few of the contenders that he will face once again. 

San Luis Rey Wagers

• $12 win and place #5 Mondego ($24)
• $4 exacta key box 5 with 2,4,8 ($24)

Mondego is not the swiftest horse from the gate, but did stay in touch from the break last time, and in a contest with an expected moderate tempo, the six-year-old will never be too far back leading up to the turn for home. Emisael Jaramillo retains the mount. 

#4 Gold Phoenix (7-5) is the class of the cast and checked in third in the race last season for Phil D’Amato. The $2.3 million earner is a four-time winner on the course who has kept excellent company over the past two years, and he has room to improve while making his second run following a creditable fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) in November. Hector Berrios will guide the stout late runner. 

#8 Watsonville (12-1) is the wildcard in the field stretching out from one mile for conditioner Mark Glatt. The Jack Milton six-year-old is a Grade 2 winner on the surface and will be controlling speed in the contest despite the removal of blinkers. The chestnut is relatively lightly raced with 14 lifetime runs to his credit and isn’t the worst stab in the world with Mike Smith taking the reins. 

Multiple Grade 2 hero #2 Truly Quality (5-1) was a closing third in the recent San Marcos on the surface and will make his third run off the bench for high-percentage trainer Jonathan Thomas. The Quality Road gelding has hit the board in three of his four career outings on the local lawn, and his best race will put him right there inside the final furlong with Antonio Fresu inheriting the mount.