Mondego scores 9-1 upset at Santa Anita as Gold Phoenix struggles

Mondego, whose rallies from back in the pack had been coming up short, lay close enough to the leaders with new rider Emisael Jaramillo to be able to get up for a one-length victory at 9-1 odds in the $100,000, Grade III San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Flashiest finished second with Armando Ayuso as the 47-1 longshot, and Truly Quality was third with Mike Smith. The disappointment was Gold Phoenix, the dependable turf runner who never threatened, with Kazushi Kimura filling in for injured Umberto Rispoli and finished seventh in the eight-horse field at even money.

Six-year-old Modego’s first stakes win in nine tries at the level was trainer Michael McCarthy’s third stakes win in a row at Santa Anita, following Yellow Card in the Clockers’ Corner and Meaning in the Las Virgenes on Feb. 8.

After sitting inside, fourth behind leaders Twirling Point and Stay Hot early, Mondego ($21.20) swung out and hit the front in the final furlong of the 1-1/4-mile race that started on the turf hillside.

“I thought Emisael rode him wonderfully today,” said McCarthy, who’d had Kimura and Prat on Mondego in recent races. “A little bit of credit (goes) to Flavien. He told us a little bit about the horse the other day, and we used it to our benefit today.”

ON THE DERBY TRAIL

Paladin, 8-1 favorite for the Kentucky Derby in this week’s future betting as of Saturday afternoon, effectively clinched a spot in the May 2 race by winning the $500,000, Grade II Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans with jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Chip Honcho lost the lead late, and Golden Tempo finished third.