Under new ownership, Sanagas to start his 2012 campaign in the San Marcos Stakes
The German bred 6-year-old gelding, Sanagas, after his dominating triumph in the Grade 1 Hollywood Turf Cup at Hollywood Park at 1 ½ miles on 19 November, 2011, got privately purchased by BC3 Thoroughbreds and David Bernsen, while Peter Miller has take over from Graham Motion as the gelding’s new trainer.
The son of Lomitas, out of mare Scota by Marju, Sanagas will start his 2012 campaign under new ownership in the Grade 2, $150,000 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita on 11 February, 2012, going over a distance of 1 ¼ miles on turf against 7 other 4-year-old and above colts and geldings.
Sanagas’s new owners would like to send him to Australia this fall to participate in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
“He’s doing super with all those black-letter works, and he’s doing it easily," said Miller, "In fact, I’m trying to slow him down, which isn’t easy with that super-duper long stride of his.”
Sanagas was tried at 1 ¼ miles before in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap at Arlington Park on 9 July, 2011, where he finished seventh to winner, Tajaaweed.
However, he bounced back nicely after his dismal performance in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap by nabbing the John’s Call Stakes going over a distance of 1 5/8 miles at Saratoga on 5 August, 2011.
He defeated Center Divider in second, and Bold Hawk in third, while covered the distance in 2 minutes and 41.45 seconds.
Sanagas was then off to Belmont Park to participate in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes, where he got cut back in distance to 1 3/8 miles. He finished 4th to winner, Grassy, on 10 September, 2011.
It was Keeneland’s poly track for Sanagas next, as he passed the test with flying colours by winning the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at about 1 1/18 miles on 20 October, 2011, defeating the likes of Tahoe Lake in second, and Center Divider in third, while covering the distance in 2 minutes and 39.40 seconds.
His most impressive victory was in the one he is exiting from, a 3 ¼ length victory over Bourbon Bay in the Grade 1 Hollywood Turf Cup.
Sanagas’s new connections would be hoping for a repeat of that performance in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes, which is also run over turf, but the distance could pose a few problems for Sanagas among a solid field.
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