Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Comebacking Isotherm faces tough test in San Gabriel
ARCADIA, Calif. – The unsteady turf division in California always has room for someone new, but two fresh comebackers face a challenging task Saturday when they return from extended layoffs in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita.
Isotherm and Free Rose, graded winners off 10 months and seven months, respectively, meet in-form veterans Itsinthepost and Flamboyant in the 1 1/8-mile turf race. The comebackers have proven class. The question is current form.
Isotherm’s new trainer Phil D’Amato believes the 5-yearold is ready. “This is my first go-around with him, but he gives every indication he should fire first off the bench,” he said.
Isotherm won the Grade 2 San Marcos on turf last February for trainer George Weaver, and then was sidelined after he was banged up finishing fifth in the Santa Anita Handicap on dirt in March. While he was off, owner Matthew Schera transferred Isotherm to D’Amato.
“[Schera] thought the horse ran really well in California, and just wanted to keep him out here permanently,” D’Amato said. “He likes a firmer turf course.”
Free Rose is still trained by Richard Baltas, who guided him to 2016 wins in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby and Grade 3 La Jolla at Del Mar. Free Rose’s 2017 summer campaign was halted by colic. He will race Saturday for the first time since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile last June.
“It’s a super-long layoff,” Baltas said. “I think I have him ready. He’s training on this heavy dirt, and he’s running on turf. They get fit on this track.”
Free Rose is a front-runner/ presser; his chance to win the San Gabriel may hinge on avoiding a duel with fellow front-runner Smokey Image.
A pace battle could set it up for potential favorite Itsinthepost, a three-time graded winner in 2017 and seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in his most recent start. Itsinthepost will race shorter than his preferred distance. No problem, according to trainer Jeff Mullins.
“He’s best at a mile and onehalf for sure,” Mullins said. “But a mile and an eighth ain’t going to bother him this time, just by the way he’s doing.”
Itsinthepost is training super for the drop in class and distance.
The others in the San Gabriel are Top of the Game, who scratched from the San Antonio on dirt; supplemental entries Win the Space and Smokey Image; restricted stakes winner He Will; and outsiders Editore and Tequila Joe.