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Gregorian Chant and jockey Juan Hernandez, outside, edge Sombeyay (Flavien Prat) to win the San Simeon Stakes
Long regarded as a two-turn horse on grass, trainer Phil D Amato s 5-year-old Gregorian Chant has found a home sprinting on turf at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as he rallied from last to take Saturday s Grade 3, $100,000 San Simeon Stakes by a neck while getting six furlongs on turf in 1:08.79 under Juan Hernandez his second consecutive turf stakes win at the distance.
Unhurried early from his number two post position, Gregorian Chant was into the bridle, about four lengths off the lead while a joint fifth heading to the far turn as heavily favored Jolie Olimpica showed the way. Moving easily around the turn, Hernandez wheeled four-deep turning for home and in a thriller, outran Sombeyay and Flavien Prat late.
Gregorian Chant Rallies to Take San Simeon
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Saturday Highlights Include Swiss Skydiver s Return
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Fox Hill Farms Jolie Olimpica and jockey Mike Smith winning the Monrovia Stakes on Santa Anita s turf course
In what appears to be a completely wide-open affair at six furlongs on turf, classy Bob and Jackie looks to rate a big chance cutting back in distance for Richard Baltas as he faces sharp recent winner Gregorian Chant, defending champ Cistron and Brazilian-bred Jolie Olimpica, who will be facing males for the first time in North America in Saturday s Grade 3, $100,000 San Simeon Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
Second, beaten 3 ¾ lengths as the 2-1 favorite by rising star Hit the Road (who took this past Saturday s Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile) in the G3 Thunder Road Stakes at one mile on turf Feb. 6, Bob and Jackie will be sprinting for the first time since his debut at age two on Oct. 20, 2018, when he was a close second going 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita s hillside turf course.