Graded Winners Truly Quality, There Goes Harvard, Easter Lead Competitive Field Of 8 In Saturday’s GIII, San Marcos Stakes

By Jasmine Torrez —-

Augustin Stables’ Truly Quality and jockey Vincent Cheminaud, right, outgame Balnikhov (Kazushi Kimuri), left, to win the Grade II $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup Friday November 29, 2024 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA.
Benoit Photo

ARCADIA, CA (Feb. 3, 2025)—Truly Quality, who closed out 2024 with three consecutive stakes wins including the GII Hollywood Turf Cup, makes his 6-year-old debut for trainer Jonathan Thomas in a competitive edition of the GIII, $100,000 San Marcos Stakes going 1 ¼ miles Saturday at Santa Anita.

Truly Quality rallied to win the 1 ½-mile Hollywood Turf Cup by a half-length at Del Mar on Nov. 29. One race prior, the Quality Road gelding had a similar trip when rallying from last to win the GIII Singspiel at Woodbine going 1 3/8 miles in October. Jockey Vincent Cheminaud was aboard for both wins and again has the call on Saturday.

A homebred for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stables, Truly Quality is 13: 5-4-3 with $498,995 in earnings. Prior to his pair of graded stakes tallies, Truly Quality earned his first stakes win in the 1 ½-mile Colonial Cup at Colonial Downs in September.

There Goes Harvard, a 7-year-old full horse by Will Take Charge, also makes his seasonal debut. Trained by Michael McCarthy, There Goes Harvard closed out 2024 with a 10th-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 2 at Del Mar. He earned a shot in North America’s richest turf race following what was a good second-place effort behind loose-on-the-lead winner Cabo Spirit in the GII John Henry Turf Cup going 1 ¼ miles at Santa Anita.

Owned by Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, There Goes Harvard is 20: 4-6-2 with $704,590 in earnings. He will have Frankie Dettori in the irons.

Easter, a multiple graded stakes winner trained by Phil D’Amato, exits a fourth-place effort in the GII San Gabriel going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. The 7-year-old, France-bred gelding by Exosphere is seeking his first win since the 2023 San Gabriel.

Owned by Madaket Stables, Easter is 25: 7-4-3 with $661,410 in earnings. He will have regular rider Antonio Fresu aboard.

Grade II winner Atitlan and multiple stakes winner Lord Bullingdon each exit the GII Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

Atitlan, trained by John Shirreffs, was third in the Mathis Mile under Mike Smith. On Saturday, Atitlan will be reunited with Hector Berrios, who rode the now 4-year-old colt by The Factor to a win in the GII Twilight Derby going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita in October.

Owned by John M. O’Connor, Atitlan is 7: 2-0-3 with $238,000 in earnings.

Lord Bullingdon, also trained by McCarthy, finished fourth in the Mathis Mile when making his second start following a 6 ½-month layoff. As a juvenile, the 4-year-old gelding by Lord Nelson won the Qatar Golden Mile and the Eddie Logan, both going a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Owned by Colbart Stables and Coronado Hills Investments LLC, Lord Bullingdon is 11: 2-2-1 with $234,190 in earnings. He will be ridden by Kyle Frey for the first time.

THE GIII SAN MARCOS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 10 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

8. Easter – Antonio Fresu – 124

First post Saturday is 12:30 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 10:30 a.m.