Rivals meet in San Luis Rey

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ashleyluvssugar and Texas Ryano have met four times in graded stakes since last August and were never separated by more than four lengths.

Ashleyluvssugar finished in front of his rival in their first three races before Texas Ryano beat Ashleyluvssugar by 3 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar in December.

The most recent race will be foremost on the minds of bettors analyzing Saturday’s Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita. The $200,000 San Luis Rey drew a field of 12, but the focus will be on Ashleyluvssugar, who will be favored, and Texas Ryano.

Ashleyluvssugar and Texas Ryano were first and third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap last August and first and second in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship here in October. They were fifth and sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf here in November.

Ashleyluvssugar and Texas Ryano are the only graded stakes winners in the last 12 months in Saturday’s field. Flamboyant won two Grade 2 turf stakes in January and February 2016 but is winless in his last six starts.

Itsinthepost was second by a half-length in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes behind Isotherm on Feb. 4 and can play a leading role in the San Luis Rey.

SAN LUIS REY, RACE 9 KEY CONTENDERS

Ashleyluvssugar, by Game Plan Last 3 Beyers: 100-100-102

◗ Ashleyluvssugar rebounded from the loss in the Hollywood Turf Cup to win his only start this year in the California Cup Turf Classic for statebreds Jan. 28.

“It seems like his energy level is back where I want it,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “I hope he’s good enough.”

◗ Ashleyluvssugar has won turf stakes at distances ranging from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/2 miles, including the 2015 San Luis Rey.

“I don’t know if a mile and a half is his best distance, but he does it,” Eurton said.

◗ Gary Stevens, who returned to riding this month after undergoing hip-replacement surgery in December, has the mount. Stevens was the regular rider of Ashleyluvssugar in 2016. In many of those races, Ashleyluvssugar raced as a stalker.

“I think he can be pretty patient,” Eurton said. “Gary knows him better than anybody.”

Texas Ryano, by Curlin Last 3 Beyers: 92-105-101

◗ Texas Ryano followed his career-best performance in the Hollywood Turf Cup with a dull sixth as the 2-1 favorite in the San Marcos at 1 1/4 miles on turf. He was at the back of a field of nine for the first six furlongs and finished sixth, 3 1/2 lengths behind Isotherm.

“He broke a little awkwardly,” trainer Carla Gaines said. “It was a slow pace, and that was that.”

◗ Gaines said Texas Ryano was hampered by racing toward the inside of the field until the stretch and missed a chance to make “that big galloping move.”

“He’s a funny horse,” Gaines said. “He has to get out and make his run. It took him a long time to get out.

“The last three times we’ve worked him, we’ve worked inside of horses because he gets a little intimidated.”