Encoder, Royal Act eye surface switch

ARCADIA, Calif. – Encoder and Royal Act, first and fifth in the Eddie Logan Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf on Dec. 29, are scheduled to have their first start on dirt in Saturday’s Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.

Encoder won the Del Mar Juvenile Turf in September and was sixth in the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint here in November. He has worked well enough on dirt for owners Pete and Kosta Hronis and trainer John Sadler to entertain a surface switch.

Encoder worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on dirt on Saturday.

“He had a good work in company in a good time,” Sadler said.

Sadler said plans are not confirmed for Encoder.

“I’m not sure he’ll run,” Sadler said. “We’ll take a look.”

Royal Act will be ridden by leading rider Joel Rosario, trainer Peter Eurton said.

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Royal Act won his debut in a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf on Nov. 10 at Del Mar and was beaten four lengths in the Eddie Logan Stakes.

The $100,000 Lewis Stakes is run at 1 1/16 miles for 3-yearolds and is a prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4.

“I think he wants more ground,” Eurton said of Royal Act. “I like the way he trains and the way he’s doing things. He seems to be getting ahold of the dirt better.”

The list of prospective runners in the Lewis Stakes is led by Thousand Words, who won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity last month and is unbeaten in two starts.

Trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday that he plans to start Tizamagician, winner of a maiden special weight race at a mile on Jan. 1 in his sixth start.

Saturday’s program has two Grade 2 races for older horses, each worth $200,000 – the San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf and the San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt.

The field for the San Pasqual is expected to be led by Roadster, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby last April and second to Omaha Beach in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 28. Also likely to run are King Abner and Midcourt, who were second and third in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 28.

Oscar Dominguez and United, first and second in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 30, lead the prospective San Marcos field. United was second to 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in the Breeders’ Cup Turf here on Nov. 2 at 51-1.

Itsinthepost, 8, retired

Itsinthepost, a millionaire who won eight graded stakes in the last three years, has been retired after sustaining an injury over the weekend.

Owner Jed Cohen, who races as Red Baron’s Barn, said Itsinthepost was diagnosed with a sesamoid injury by trainer Jeff Mullins on Sunday, a day after working five furlongs in 1:02 on the infield training track.

“He obviously had a problem,” Cohen said. “It’s a shame.”

Cohen said Itsinthepost will not need surgery. Mullins said in a text message Sunday that he was “devastated” by the developments.

An 8-year-old gelding bred in France, Itsinthepost won 11 of 42 starts and earned $1,384,604. Itsinthepost had his best season by wins as a 6-year-old in 2018, going 4 for 7 and earning $505,690. During that season, Itsinthepost won three consecutive Grade 2 turf stakes at Santa Anita to start the campaign – the San Gabriel Stakes, San Marcos Stakes, and San Luis Rey Stakes.

Itsinthepost was under consideration for Saturday’s San Marcos Stakes when the injury occurred.

Itsinthepost was seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar in 2017, a year he won 3 of 9 starts and earned $573,000. Itsinthepost finished eighth in his final start, the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup on Dec. 1 at Del Mar. The previous month he won the Grade 2 Marathon Stakes at Santa Anita. The Marathon Stakes was Itsinthepost’s only win on dirt in two starts on the surface.

Itsinthepost had five starts in France in 2014 as a 2-year-old before being bought by Cohen and transferred to Darrell Vienna. Itsinthepost was with Vienna until the spring of 2016, when Vienna retired from training.

Itsinthepost won his debut for Mullins in an optional claimer at Santa Anita in May 2016. Aside from the eight stakes wins, Itsinthepost was second or third in five graded stakes.

“I compliment Jeff on the job he’s done with the horse,” Cohen said. “That’s a pretty remarkable career he had.”