San Simeon Stakes: Quereme Pass and Gran Oriente, South American hands

The Chilean and the Argentine will headline next Saturday's traditional turf sprint showdown at Santa Anita Park

Quereme Pass winning at Palermo / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

ARCADIA, California—The traditional San Simeon Stakes (G3), to be held this Saturday over the demanding downhill turf course at Santa Anita Park, carries special appeal for South American racing fans. A pair of regional representatives, the Argentine Quereme Pass and the Chilean Gran Oriente, are set to line up against a formidable group of seasoned sprinters.

The $100,000 event is headlined by the return of Seal Team (War Front), a Grade 2 winner for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella who returns from a nearly 10-month layoff. However, beyond the local stars, much of the international focus will remain on the South American duo.

For Gran Oriente, the race marks his stateside stakes debut. The son of Classic Empire, now conditioned by Marcelo Polanco for Stud Vendaval Inc., kicked off his U.S. campaign with a credible effort in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

While his initial comeback run left something to be desired, the story changed just 12 days later when he was tested over the unique downhill layout. With Armando Ayuso in the irons, he showed a completely different dimension, closing resolutely to secure a high-level allowance by a neck. That performance catapulted him directly into this graded assignment, with Ayuso retaining the mount.

The Argentine-bred Quereme Pass adds further intrigue as he tests his mettle against specialized turf sprinters. A winner at Kentucky Downs, he traveled from Florida under the care of José F. D'Angelo and will be guided by the veteran Emisael Jaramillo for Lugamo Racing Stable LLC in partnership with Stud Pauli.

On paper, the field is dominated by the aforementioned Seal Team, a Perry R. Bass II and Ramona S. Bass homebred who has not been seen since the Shoemaker Mile (G1) last season. He endured a troubled trip that day to finish sixth, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths, suggesting the result could have been far different with a clear run.

The 2023 Twilight Derby (G2) winner at Santa Anita boasts a record of three wins and four placings from 10 starts for earnings of $311,276. For his return, he will have the services of Héctor Berríos, adding yet another Latino presence to the event.

Mandella will also saddle the battle-tested Sumter, another son of War Front bred by the Bass family. The 7-year-old gelding was second in the Joe Hernandez (G2) over this course in December before a fourth-place finish in the Clockers’ Corner Stakes (L) in February. Reunited with Mike Smith, he brings a bankroll of over $527,000 from 31 career starts.

Among the primary threats is the Phil D’Amato trainee Sorrento Sky (Prince of Lir), who was second in the Clockers’ Corner and third in this race last year. The 5-year-old Irish-bred seeks his first stakes victory with Florent Geroux taking the reins.

With a competitive field and the always unpredictable nature of the Santa Anita hillside turf, the San Simeon promises an intense contest. For the South American public, the presence of Quereme Pass and Gran Oriente adds that special spice: the hope of seeing regional runners once again leave their mark on the elite stage of American racing.