From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2024)—An 18-1 longshot in a field of five older horses and the lone California-bred in the lineup, See Through It rallied wide turning for home en route to a 1 ¼ length win as Bob Baffert’s odds-on favorite Hopkins tired late off of a 10-month layoff.
Based at Los Alamitos with trainer Salvador Naranjo, See Through It, ridden by Tiago Pereira for the first time since Nov. 13, 2021, sat a patient trip, about four lengths off of both Hopkins and $2 million earner C Z Rocket heading into the far turn.
Content to keep his mount four-deep approaching the quarter pole, Pereira stayed busy through the drive and picked up the tiring speed in a huge performance.
“There were a few fresh horses in the race and we thought they’d be going for the lead and they did,” said Naranjo. “I told Tiago, ‘Just hang back two or three lengths behind them if you can and see if you can get him to relax and then ask him turning for home.”
When Naranjo was asked if he thought he had a chance to win prior to the race, he responded, “Yes I did. The horse is feeling great right now and he’s been training great. He’s shown a little class before. He won a stake at Golden Gate (nine starts back versus Cal-breds on Feb. 18, 2023).
Most recently seventh going five furlongs on turf in open company in the ungraded Stormy Liberal Stakes at Del Mar Dec. 2, See Through It paid $38.00, $8.20 and $3.00.
A 7-year-old gelding by Curlin to Mischief, See Through It was bred in California by Edward Allred. Originally trained by Art Sherman of California Chrome fame, See Through It was claimed out of a maiden $3,500 win at Los Alamitos in his third start on May 29, 2020.
Today’s winner’s share of $58,500, which includes a California-bred incentive bonus of $13,500, brings See Through It’s total earnings to $351,712.
Owned by Belico Racing, LLC and Lizbeth Medina, See Through It’s overall race record is 30-8-7-5.
A winner of Santa Anita’s Grade III Palos Verdes Stakes two starts back on Feb. 5, Hopkins had been on the bench since running a close fourth in the $2 million Golden Shaeen Stakes in Dubai on March 25. Off at 4-5 today with Juan Hernandez, Hopkins was pressed throughout on the lead by C Z Rocket and paid the price late, returning $2.60 and $2.10 while finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of “C Z.”
A winner of a six furlong classified allowance going six furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 25, multiple graded stakes winning 10-year-old gelding C Z Rocket, trained by Peter Miller and ridden by Flavien Prat, was off at 5-2 and paid $2.10 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.14, 44.54 and 56.75.