Interesting Field for Grade II Sir Beaufort

Although bred in Kentucky, three-year-old gelding No Jet Lag began his career in the UK, where things looked good early after winning both his second and third time out. He faltered in stakes and handicap competition, however, and mid-summer he was shipped to California, where he won first try, and then captured the Grade II City of Hope Mile before running sixth in the Breeder’s Cup Mile. That resume has him as the lukewarm 5-2 morning line choice for Thursday’s $200,00 Grade II Sir Beaufort Stakes on opening day at Santa Anita.

Favorite here a long odds winner before

Run at a mile, the Sir Beaufort has drawn a competitive field of 10 three-year-olds, seven of them stakes winners. In taking the City of Hope at 13-1, No Jet Lag came from mid-pack late to go four wide and win by a half-length. As the ML second choice at 3-1, Tom’s Tribute comes into this after a win in his first stakes try, as he took the Uniformity at Santa Anita by 2 1/4 lengths. Finishing sixth in the Uniformity was the Florida-bred Procurement, who is in here and listed at 6-1.

Race has the feel of an upset possibility

If there is an upset or big exacta score to be had it could involve one or both of 7-2 Gervinho or even 15-1 Educated Guess. The California-bred Gervinho will be making his fourth straight graded-stakes start, with a second, a third, and a fourth to show for his efforts. He does have two minor stakes wins to his credit, including the Zuma Beach Stakes one year ago at the track and distance. Third-time starter Educated Guess will be taking a big step up in class, but he’s two-for-two, now looking to make the transition to grass.