Drysdale sends out three in San Marcos

Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale will saddle nearly one-third of the field

in Monday's $150,000

San

Marcos S. (G2), the graded feature on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day card at

Santa Anita. Of the 10 entrants in the grassy 1 1/4-mile affair, three hail from

the Drysdale barn -- multiple Grade 1 hero ARTISTE ROYAL (Ire) (Danehill),

Canadian International (Can-G1) upsetter MARSH SIDE (Gone West) and Hollywood

Turf Cup (G1) runner-up OBRIGADO (Fr) (Enrique).

Artiste Royal is the most accomplished member of the field, having captured

the 2007 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship S. (G1) and the 2008 Charles

Whittingham Memorial H. (G1). The eight-year-old is coming off a frustrating

trip in the December 14 Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1), where he encountered traffic

trouble en route to his 11th-place finish. Garrett Gomez picks up the mount on

the 1 1/4-mile specialist.

Marsh Side cuts back in trip after surprising in the 1 1/2-mile Canadian

International at 29-1. The dark bay was an intended runner in the November 30

Japan Cup (Jpn-G1), but he was scratched after spiking a fever on the eve of the

race. Javier Castellano, who masterminded his Woodbine coup, makes the trek west

to stick with the 123-pound highweight.

Grade 2 veteran Obrigado hopes that his third crack at the San Marcos is the

proverbial charm, as he has finished third in the past two runnings. Last time

out, the bay gelding was a closing second in the Hollywood Turf Cup to Champs

Elysees (GB) (Danehill), winner of the 2008 San Marcos. Obrigado will reunite

with Joel Rosario on Monday.

Among those seeking to escape Drysdale domination are multiple Grade 2 winner

SPRING HOUSE (Chester House), who returns to turf for Julio Canani after

finishing fourth in the Native Diver H. (G3); FERNELEY (Ire) (Ishiguru) and

MEDICI CODE (GB) (Medicean), the respective second- and third-place finishers in

the San Gabriel H. (G2); and multiple Grade 3 victor STREAM CAT (Black

Minnaloushe), now once again in residence with horseman Patrick Biancone.

Also on Monday, eight sophomores will contest the $70,000

San Pedro

S. at 6 1/2 furlongs on the Pro-Ride. Top contenders include the Bob Baffert-trained

VENTANA (Toccet), who reverts to sprinting after trailing home in the CashCall

Futurity (G1); ARASHI CAT (Fusaichi Pegasus), a dead-heat third with Ventana in

the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3); and FLASHMANS PAPERS (GB) (Exceed and Excel),

winner of an eventful Eddie Logan S. on the turf in his latest venture.