CALIFORNIA-BRED BRICKYARD RIDE COMES OFF THE BENCH TO HEAD SUNDAY’S GRADE III, $100,000 SAN SIMEON AT 6 ½ FURLONGS DOWN HILLSIDE TURF

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 2, 2023)—Idle for nine months, the Craig Lewis-trained rocket ship, formally named Brickyard Ride, heads a group of eight older horses going about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita hillside turf course in Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 San Simeon Stakes at Santa Anita.

The lone California-bred in the lineup, Brickyard Ride, a 6-year-old full horse by Clubhouse Ride out of the Southern Image mare Brickyard Helen, is owned by his breeder, Alfred Pais.

A two-time graded and seven-time overall stakes winner, Brickyard Ride won his only try down Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course, as he took the statebred Sensational Star Stakes three starts back on March 20, 2022, in gate to wire fashion by 1 ½ lengths.

Lightning quick, Brickyard Ride unfurled interior splits of 21.20, 42.60 and 1:05.20 en route to a final Sensational Star clocking of 1:11.40.

That said, a lack of recency and an 11 ¾ length drubbing as the 1-5 favorite in his most recent start, the Grade II Triple Bend going seven furlongs on the main track here on May 29, is a concern to handicappers. Mitigating these factors is a robust work tab, as Lewis sent him out for three consecutive six furlong drills, two of them bullet moves, on Jan. 19, Jan. 27 and on Feb. 5.

With training limited due to a barrage of wet weather, Brickyard Ride’s most recent drill came on Feb. 16, as he went five panels in 59.60, third best of 26 at the distance.

With an overall mark of 23-12-1-2, Brickyard Ride, who will be ridden for the ninth consecutive time by leading man Juan Hernandez, has amassed earnings of $744,977.

In top recent form, Irish-bred Count of Amazonia rallied for a smashing two length second condition allowance score down the hill on Feb. 10 and rates a huge chance from off the pace with John Velazquez riding for the first time.

Trained by Bob Hess, Jr. and owned by 4004 Biscayne, LLC, Duke Perry Stable, Larry Buckendorf and Jeffrey Lambert, Count of Amazonia, who was claimed six starts back at Del Mar for $50,000, would relish a fast pace.

Phil D’Amato’s English-bred Motorious is another horse that will hope to be winging late and is in good recent form. Most recently second, beaten 2 ½ lengths as the 3-5 favorite down the hill in the restricted Clockers’ Corner Stakes on Jan. 29, he’ll be ridden back by Flavien Prat.

A 5-year-old gelding, Motorious is owned by Anthony Fanticola. A 3 ¼ length hillside allowance winner two starts back on Jan. 2, Motorious is 2-2-1 in five Southern California starts and is 12-4-3-2 overall.

Bass Stables’ homebred Sumter would appear to rate a huge chance in what will be his first try down the hill. On the lead until deep stretch in the Grade II Santa Anita Mathis Mile (turf) on Dec. 26, Sumter finished third, beaten 1 ¼ lengths. A two-time ungraded stakes winner at one mile on turf, Sumter, a 4-year-old cold by War Front who is trained by Richard Mandella, will be ridden back by Mike Smith.

With an overall mark of 10-3-2-3, Sumter has earnings of $249,600.

__THE GRADE III SAN SIMEON WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER __

Race 5 of 9 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

1. Brickyard Ride—Juan Hernandez—124
2. Sumter—Mike Smith—122
3. Count of Amazonia—John Velazquez—120
4. Whatmakessammyrun—Joe Bravo—124
5. Motorious—Flavien Prat—120
6. Respect the Code—Kent Desormeaux—120
7. Anarchist-Lanfranco Dettori—120
8. Mecklenburg—Ricardo Gonzalez—120

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m.