Four Star Keeneland Grad Midcourt Wins G2 San Pasqual
Five-year-old likely to be one of the favorites for the Santa Anita Handicap (G1).
Midcourt, who as a young racehorse didn’t want to train, now doesn’t want to lose. A maiden in early June, he recorded his fifth victory in his past six races with a romp over longshots Two Thirty Five and Combatant in the $202,000 San Pasqual Stakes (G2) Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park.
Breaking far better than he had in his lone loss over that stretch—a wide third in the San Antonio Stakes (G2)—Midcourt took charge early in the San Pasqual, just as he had in winning the Nov. 23 Native Diver Stakes (G3) at Del Mar. Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza sent him clear from the pack with fractions of :23.50, :47.31, and 1:11.26 in the 1 1/8-mile race.