Favorites Will Be Lonesome in Their San Fernando Run

Silver Charm and Lord Grillo won’t have much company in the starting gate when they get together for a rematch in the $300,000 San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes on Saturday.

When entries are taken this morning, only two other 4-year-olds are expected to join the first two finishers in last month’s Malibu in the second leg of the Strub series.

Trainer Ron McAnally is expected to enter Mud Route and Kukulcan in the San Fernando, which, for the first time since 1959, will be run at 1 1/16 miles instead of 1 1/8.

Silver Charm, upset by Lord Grillo in the seven-furlong Malibu on Dec. 26 in his first race since he was second to Touch Gold in the Belmont Stakes, worked six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 for trainer Bob Baffert.

“The track was a little slow that day,” Baffert said. “I can’t do too much with him now. He’s ready. Every race he runs now sets him up for the next one.”

Owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis and voted the Eclipse Award as the nation’s top 3-year-old in 1997, Silver Charm is expected to make two more starts at Santa Anita after the San Fernando. Also on his schedule are the $500,000 Strub Stakes on Feb. 7 and the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap a month later.

A 9-1 shot when he rallied wide to win the Malibu, Lord Grillo will have recent history against him. Not since On The Line in 1988 has a horse won both the Malibu and San Fernando. Precisionist in 1985 was the last to sweep the series.

A highly regarded 3-year-old at this time last year before being sidelined because of injury, Mud Route is winless in two starts since returning. He was fourth in the Malibu and worked six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 on Sunday morning.

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Via Lombardia, winless in six tries on the Santa Anita turf course, came from well off the pace to beat 13-10 favorite A Magicman by a length in the $71,450 Pass The Glass Handicap.

Trained by Neil Drysdale and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, the 6-year-old completed the mile in 1:35 2/5 and paid $10.20 as the 4-1 third choice in the field of nine.