Setsuko, beaten a nose at 25-1 in last year’s Santa Anita Handicap,
punched his ticket for a return trip on March 3 with a comfortable
victory in an allowance test in Saturday’s finale. It was the first
start for the 5-year-old son of Pleasantly Perfect since the Pacific
Classic, in which he finished ninth and last on Aug. 28.
“His schedule was a little tight, which is why I wasn’t sure he
would make the Big ‘Cap this year, but it worked out fine,” Hall of Fame
trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday morning. “Three weeks ago I didn’t
think he was quite that fit and then his works just stepped right up so
I said, ‘let’s go.’
“He ran good yesterday and came out good, so we’ll give it another try.”