Photo:

Benoit Photo / Santa Anita

In his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Turf in November, There Goes Harvard ended a lengthy dry spell with a gate-to-wire victory under Frankie Dettori in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 San Marcos Stakes going 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita.

Sent off the 9-2 third choice, There Goes Harvard broke cleanly from the gate and quickly found himself in an uncustomary position on the lead. He proceeded to click off comfortable fractions of 23.96 and 48.08 seconds and 1:12.72 for six furlongs. Lord Bullingdon, who like the winner is trained by Michael McCarthy, tracked his stablemate in second.

There Goes Harvard reached the quarter pole in 1:36.16, extended his lead through the stretch and cruised to a 3 1/4-length win. Easter, the 4-1 second choice ridden by Antonio Fresu, rallied from last to edge Lord Bullingdon by a nose for second.

“When I looked at the form, I saw there wasn’t particularly a lot of speed,” Dettori said. “I took the chance to go forward. I got a nice, easy lead. On the backstretch, I took him off the rail a little bit and he was playing with his ears. It was great. From the three-eighths pole I wound him up. When I pressed the button, I looked around and was free in front. That was it. All over.”

There Goes Harvard paid $11.20, $4.80 and $3.60. Easter, trained by Phil D’Amato, returned $4.40 and $3.20. Lord Bullingdon, ridden by Kyle Frey, paid $9.40. Truly Quality, the even-money favorite for trainer Jonathan Thomas, never threatened and finished sixth under Vincent Cheminaud.

In the 1 1/2-mile Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 2 at Del Mar, There Goes Harvard faded to 10th after being in contention at the top of this stretch. The San Marcos was his first win since the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) on dirt in May 2022.

“He was a little bit fresh today, obviously not having run since the Breeders’ Cup,” McCarthy said. “He bounced out of the gate and he certainly carved out a fairly decent half mile fraction, three-quarters in 12 and change. It seemed like the horse was really enjoying himself today.”

There Goes Harvard, is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber, who purchased the 7-year-old Will Take Charge horse privately last year. There Goes Harvard improved to 21: 5-6-2 with $764,560 in earnings.

“He is new to us,” said Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “We bought him as a ripe old 6-year-old before the Pacific Classic. Thanks to the Cannon family for selling him to Eclipse and Gary Barber on Michael’s recommendation. He felt like there was plenty of juice in the lemon. A testament to Michael’s horsemanship.”