San Juan Capistrano selection

Although stamina and turf horses have been in short supply in U.S. racing recently, a field of seven older horses will contest today's $200,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (gr. IIT) at about 1 3/4 miles over Santa Anita's turf, R8 set down for 7:43 ET. None of the entrants have previously raced at this distance. The San Juan Capistrano has for years served as Santa Anita's final stakes race of its spring/summer stand. I'm again selecting the ML fav #8 Quick Casablanca, who raced in his native Chile as well as Argentina before obtaining a letter of transit and coming north, is the most accomplished runner in the group. The 6-year-old scored group I victories in 2012 in both Argentina and Chile going 1 1/2 miles and 1 5/16 miles. He was competitive in New York last year in the Clement stable, finishing third in the Good Reward Stakes and in the John's Call, but failed to break through to the win column until he was sent to trainer Ron McAnally in California, after which he won the Last Tycoon Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita this April before running third in the Charlie Whittingham Stakes (gr. IIT) a month ago. He gets back but there looks to be a genuine pace via #5,6,7. RESULT: PLACE. #5 Big Kick (5/1) well ridden by Espinoza led all the way LOL by 10-15L the first 10f at 12 or 12&1,and ran home last 4f at 12&3. Talamo on the other hand let #8 QC (3/5f) lope along in 12&3,got too far back and despite a final 4f in 11&4 couldn't make up the leeway, 2L a drift at the finish. By the way, the times suggest the "about 1&3/4" must have been closer to 1&5/16.