The Usual Q. T., in his first appearance since placing third in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) early last month, heads the field for the $150,000 San Gabriel Stakes (gr. IIT) on the second day of the Santa Anita winter racing season Dec. 27.
A field of 10, including three million-dollar earners, was entered in the 1 1/8-mile turf event. The eighth of nine races on the card, the San Gabriel is set for a 4 p.m. PST post. Among the rivals he'll face is Proudinsky, who has won the two previous renewals of the San Gabriel.
The Usual Q. T., a dual grade I winner, has had an eventful 2010 campaign for trainer Jim Cassidy, starting with a fourth-place finish in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) on World Cup night at Meydan Racecourse in March. The 4-year-old California-bred son of Unusual Heat went on to score a two-length victory in the Eddie Read Stakes (gr. IT) at Del Mar Aug. 28 before concluding the year with three successive losses in grade I events.
He ran fifth in the Pacific Classic (gr. IT) over Del Mar's Polytrack, then returned to the turf for a runner-up effort in the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) Sept. 19. He led at the sixteenth pole before yielding to Court Vision by 1 1/2 lengths.
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