The $100,000 San Simeon Stakes (G3T) has shaped into a wide-open contest with half of six entries set at 3-1 or below in the morning line.
Perry Bass II and Ramona Bass' homebred multiple graded-placed stakes winner Sumter is the slight 5-2 favorite for the 6 1/2-furlong test being run March 14 on Santa Anita Park's hillside turf course. The 7-year-old gelding by War Front finished second in the last two editions of the Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2T), run at the same distance on the hillside course. Sumter last out ran fourth in the Feb. 8 Clocker's Corner Stakes going 6 furlongs on Santa Anita's flat turf course. The gelding is trained by Richard Mandella and will be ridden by Mike Smith, who steered Sumter to wins in the 2024-25 Lure Stakes going a mile on the Santa Anita turf.
Among the equally talented challengers is Sorrento Sky, a multiple graded-placed winner by Prince of Lir, who ran third in last year's San Simeon Stakes and last out ran second in the Clocker's Corner Stakes. The 5-year-old horse is trained by Philip D'Amato and will be ridden by Florent Geroux.
Also intriguing in the field is Chilean group 1 winner Gran Oriente, a 5-year-old son of Classic Empire, who is trained by Marcelo Polanco for Stud Vendaval. Though a group 1 winner at 1 1/4 miles, Gran Oriente already captured an allowance-level win Jan. 23 at 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside course.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, March 14, 2026, Race 3Entries: San Simeon S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Sumter (KY) Mike E. Smith 122 Richard E. Mandella 5/2 2 2Quereme Pass (ARG) Emisael Jaramillo 120 Jose Francisco D'Angelo 8/1 3 3Genius Jimmy (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 120 Michael W. McCarthy 3/1 4 4Gran Oriente (CHI) Armando Ayuso 124 Marcelo Polanco 9/2 5 5Seal Team (GB) Hector Isaac Berrios 124 Richard E. Mandella 4/1 6 6Sorrento Sky (IRE) Florent Geroux 120 Philip D'Amato 3/1
