In a race amazingly similar to the 2011 San Vicente Stakes, The Factor held off old rival Sway Away to win the $200,000 San Carlos Stakes (gr. II) this afternoon at Santa Anita Park.
Ridden to victory by Martin Garcia, The Factor got off to a quick start in the six-furlong race and went straight to the lead, running the opening quarter mile in a moderate :22.55 while being mildly pressed by Rothko. Amazombie, the Eclipse champion male sprinter of 2011 and winner of the 2011 Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), was racing on the outside in third, followed on the fence by Canonize. It was a long way back then to Sway Away, who trailed the field.
Rounding the far turn, The Factor began to inch away from Rothko as Amazombie prepared his bid for the lead. Following a half mile in :44.50, The Factor turned for home with a narrow lead. Canonize came through on the fence to challenge, but was repelled. Amazombie was staying on strongly, but was not gaining on the leader. However, Sway Away was charging furiously on the far outside, and briefly appeared capable of catching the heavy favorite. The stretch run was very similar indeed to the stretch run of the 2011 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II), in which The Factor -- the heavy favorite then as well -- was forced to dig deep to hold off a charging Sway Away to secure a three-quarter length victory. The results were the same today as well, for The Factor had enough left to hold off his rival while stopping the clock in a quick 1:20.56. Once again, the margin of victory was three-quarters of a length,
Amazombie narrowly held third over Canonize, while Rothko trailed the field. There was a steward's inquiry into the stretch run involving The Factor and Canonize, but no change was made to the order of finish.
-Keelerman
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