Express Train heads competitive Grade II, $200,000 San Pasqual on Saturday

In what shapes up as an important prep to the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on March 5, C R K Stable’s Express Train heads a field of six older horses going a mile and one eighth in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita.

 

A game nose winner over A-List sophomore Hot Rod Charlie in the Grade II San Antonio Stakes going a mile and one sixteenth on Dec. 26, Express Train is the defending champ in the San Pasqual and he’ll be seeking his fourth graded stakes win on Saturday.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Express Train will be ridden back by Victor Espinoza, who delivered the mail at odds of 7-1 on opening day.  A 5-year-old horse by Union Rags, Express Train is easily the leading money earner in the field with $815,800 from an overall mark of 15-5-4-3.

A newly turned 4-year-old, Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ Law Professor prevailed in a protracted stretch battle with Grade I winner Beyond Brilliant to take the Grade II Santa Anita Mathis Mile by a half length on Dec. 26 and he has the look of a “now horse” as he bids for his third consecutive victory.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Law Professor, a 4-year-old gelding by Constitution, was ridden to consecutive wins by Jose Ortiz and will be handled for the first time by Juan Hernandez in the San Pasqual.  With a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure in hand, Law Professor, who had raced on turf in his previous two starts, was off at 4-1 in the Mathis Mile, which was switched to the main track due to heavy rains.  With three wins from seven starts, Law Professor seeks his second stakes win.