Scatify gets a rematch on the Kentucky Derby prep trail at Santa Anita on Sunday, while promising turf sophomore Cugino makes his stakes debut on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Already a winner and Graded-stakes placed, Scatify will make his third career start in the $300,000, Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, with 50 qualifying points at stake for the Kentucky Derby. The competition will be familiar: three of his four rivals also come out of last month’s Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes.
Scatify set the pace in the Lewis and fought through the stretch to just miss second behind the unbeaten Nysos, who will be a strong favorite again in the San Felipe. Hector Berrios retains the mount on Scatify for trainer John Sadler.
A son of Triple Crown hero, Scatify was acquired in May at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of two-year-olds in training.
Cugino is 5-to-2 on the morning line for the $200,000 Colonel Liam Stakes going a mile on the grass at Gulfstream. He finished a close second there in a January 13, following a debut win at Aqueduct in November.
Javier Castellano rides Cugino for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.