Heavily Favored Easter Storms Home To Take Grade II, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes

HEAVILY FAVORED EASTER STORMS HOME TO TAKE GRADE II, $200,000 SAN GABRIEL STAKES BY 1 ¼ LENGTHS AS HE GETS 1 1/8 MILES ON TURF IN 1:47.60

ARCADIA, CA (Dec. 26, 2023)—Heavily favored at 3-5, Phil D’Amato’s French-bred Easter tipped five-wide turning for home en route to a powerful 1 ¼ length victory in Tuesday’s Grade II, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes, one of six graded events on Santa Anita’s Classic Meet opening day.

Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Easter was under a snug hold down the backside, last by about four lengths passing the half mile pole and despite the fact Frankie Dettori had carved out a moderate early pace aboard Eastern Ocean, Easter was simply too much, as he ran up his third consecutive stakes victory, getting a mile and one eighth on turf in 1:47.60.

A gutty half length winner of the Grade II Seabiscuit Handicap going a mile and one sixteenth on turf at Del Mar Nov. 25, Easter dominated the wagering versus five rivals aged three and up and paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10.

A 5-year-old gelding making his second start for D’Amato raced almost exclusively through five starts in New York this year for trainer Graham Motion. Easter, owned by Madaket Stables, LLC, picked up $120,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $567,910 while improving his overall mark to 19-7-3-3.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Missed the Cut raced as a team with Easter to the far turn and finished well to be second, a nose in front of Tio Magico. Off at 4-1, Missed the Cut paid $3.60 and $2.60.

The second choice at 7-2 with Flavien Prat, Tio Magico, who is also conditioned by D’Amato, got the jump on his stablemate turning for home but was no match for him late as he checked in third and paid $2.40 to show.

Fractions on the race were 24.64, 48.76, 1:12.66 and 1:36.21.