OFFLEE NAUGHTY MUCH BEST AS FAVORITE IN GRADE III, $100,000 SAN LUIS REY STAKES AS HE WINS BY 1 ¼ LENGTHS & GETS 1 ½ MILES ON TURF IN 2:24.87

ARCADIA, CA (May 13, 2023)—Fresh off of the biggest win of his career here at a mile and one quarter on turf, trainer Michael McCarthy’s 5-year-old Offlee Naughty proved much best as the favorite going a mile and one half on turf Saturday in Santa Anita’s Grade III, $100,000 San Luis Rey Stakes.

Ridden for the first time since his career debut in June of 2021 by Umberto Rispoli, Offlee Naughty overcame traffic trouble around the final bend to win by 1 ¼ lengths while getting the marathon distance in 2:24.87.

With a hillside start down Santa Anita’s unique Camino Real Turf Course, Offlee Naughty was next to last, about 11 lengths off lonely pacesetter Opry after the first quarter mile. With Opry fully committed, Offlee Naughty remained unhurried and was fourth by about seven lengths at the rail when forced to steady off the heels of Dicey Mo Chara about five sixteenths of a mile from home. With Opry shortening stride, Offlee Naughty proved his mettle as Rispoli pointed him outside Dicey Mo Chara, who he gradually overtook well inside the sixteenth pole with Brazilian-bred Planetario charging late to complete the exacta.

The 8-5 favorite in a field of seven older horses, Offlee Naughty paid $5.20, $3.40 and $2.20.

“I was trying to go around, I saw Juan (Hernandez, aboard Dicey Mo Chara) in front, so I was trying to sneak in,” said Rispoli. “I came to the top of the stretch and (my horse) switched his lead and he was the better horse today.”

Owned by James and Donna Daniell, Offlee Naughty, a 5-year-old full horse by Flashback out of the Offlee Wild mare Acting Naughty, notched his second career graded stakes win and improved his overall mark to 17-5-1-1. Fourth in last year’s San Luis Rey, Offlee Naughty picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $370,645.

“He’s been back and forth across the country a couple of times (and) he got really good before he got here,” said McCarthy, who has also campaigned the horse in Kentucky and New York. “I thought his race the other day was really good, where at the eighth pole, he found another gear. Today, he kind of chucked around the turn and lost a little bit of momentum (but) we were able to go ahead and find another gear and get the job done.

“This win is for Jim Daniell and his wife.”

A Group I winner in Brazil, Richard Mandella’s Planetario, who was a close fifth in his U.S. debut here going a mile and one eighth on turf June 18, flew late under Hector Berrios to overtake Dicey Mo Chara by a neck on the money. Off at 6-1, Planetario paid $6.80 and $3.20.

Trained by Leonard Powell, English-bred Dicey Mo Chara was third-best on the day and paid $2.20 to show as the second choice at 8-5 and finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of Opry who was ridden by Mike Smith.

Fractions on the race were 23.95, 47.50, 1:11.55, 1:35.42 and 2:00.22.

Racing resumes with first post time for an eight-race card on Sunday at 1 p.m. and admission gates opening at 11 a.m.