Easter, the 6-year-old gelding, is winless in five starts this year, yet still the subject of high expectations for Thursday’s Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita – and into 2025.
Easter, who has been second once this year, won the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf last December, his most recent win. In his last start, Easter overcame slight trouble on the turn to finish a fast-closing fourth in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 30.
Easter is unlikely to race at that short of a distance anytime soon. After the San Gabriel, Easter will be tried in longer races next year.
“I think we’ll stretch him out and see how he fits in the marathon division in 2024,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.
In 24 starts in France and the United States, Easter has raced primarily at a mile to 1 1/8 miles. Shortly after arriving in the United States, Easter started twice at 1 3/8 miles on turf at Belmont Park, finishing fourth of five in the Grade 1 Man o’ War Stakes, and a brighter second in an allowance race at the distance in his following start.
At the time, Easter was trained by Graham Motion. The gelding joined D’Amato’s stable in fall 2023, shortly before a win in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap.
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The California-based turf marathon division has lacked a clear leader in recent years. The D’Amato-trained Gold Phoenix has won the last three runnings of the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf each summer, but has had erratic form at other times of the year.
Easter will be ridden on Thursday by Antonio Fresu, his regular rider.
“Antonio is big on him stretching out,” D’Amato said.
Owned by Madaket Stable, Easter’s best result this year was a second in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile in March. He was beaten by San Gabriel favorite Johannes in his next three starts – a sixth in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile in May, and fifth-place finishes in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar in July and the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita in September.
At a mile, Easter needs a quick pace to help his closing style. At longer distances, D’Amato is hopeful that stamina will help Easter.
“He’s one of those horses that in the mile category, he’s more of a Grade 2 or Grade 3 horse,” D’Amato said. “He may be a Grade 1 horse going farther.”
There is even hope that Easter can develop into a candidate for the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
“That’s what we’re hoping for,” D’Amato said. “He’s got a lot to prove. We’ll see what he can do.”
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