Jeranimo is the new San Gabriel chief

Proudinsky and The Usual Q. T. delivered their challenges turning into the

stretch, but the favorite couldn't match strides with the reigning San Gabriel

hero. As Proudinsky drove to the front and took aim on the record book, Jeranimo

was looming into the frame. Exploding through on the fence, Jeranimo

unceremoniously dethroned Proudinsky and increased his margin to the wire,

returning $10.20, $5.20 and $2.80.

"My horse rushed a little bit at the break," Bejarano recapped. "After that,

I tried to stay behind and get in the bridle, and he started to relax. When I

saw the number one (Proudinsky) getting room from the rail, I just stayed on the

rail because I knew he was going to have a lot of horse at the end, too. When

the number one came out a bit in the stretch, I got the opportunity and my horse

came running. I ran the last time with this horse, too, and he won so easy on

the turf that I thought he would run the same race today. This horse is really

improving."

Proudinsky, who was competing in his fourth consecutive San Gabriel and

finishing runner-up for the second time, paid $5.40 and $2.80 as the 9-2 third

choice. The Usual Q. T. just held onto third by a half-length from the closing

Expansion (Maria's Mon), yielding $2.20 to show. The $1 exotics were worth

$19.70 (exacta), $43.10 (trifecta) and $303.90 (4-1-3-7 superfecta) with the

20-1 Expansion in fourth. Meteore, Medici Code (GB) (Medicean) and Violon Sacre

completed the order under the wire, while Unusual Suspect (Unusual Heat),

Riviera Cocktail (Giant's Causeway) and Spurrier (Dixieland Band) were

withdrawn.

Jeranimo's scorecard now stands at 15-5-3-2, $429,400. Third in the 2009 San

Felipe S. (G2) in his stakes bow, the bay finished a close but troubled fourth

in the January 30 Sunshine Millions Classic S. in his first stakes attempt

versus older horses. He broke through next time out with a sharp score in the

February 13 Strub, beating subsequent Santa Anita H. (G1) winner Misremembered

(Candy Ride [Arg]). Jeranimo didn't fare as well in the Big 'Cap himself,

winding up fourth, and he spent the next seven months on the sidelines. The

four-year-old made a low-key return in the October 23 Oakland S. over Golden

Gate's Tapeta, where he closed late to grab fifth in the six-furlong sprint,

prior to his revelation on turf.

"This horse is as good as he's ever been, and Rafael rode him great," said

Pender, who is keeping Jeranimo's options open. "We're going to try and look at

all the invitations. I would ultimately love to run him here in the Big 'Cap (at

1 1/4 miles on dirt March 5). We ran in it last year, and it would be great to

go back there and seek a little revenge. If we get some bigger invites from

across the pond, we'll certainly look into that as well."

Pender added that he views Jeranimo as an all-surface threat.

"No, absolutely not," he responded when asked if he'd stay on turf. "I think

this horse can run over anything. That's how good he is."

Bred by Brylynn Farm Inc. in Florida, Jeranimo was sold for $50,000 as an OBS

August yearling, and later brought $70,000 as a Barretts May two-year-old. He is

out of the stakes-winning Jeblar mare Jera, whose other foals include the

stakes-placed Tizthen (Tiznow), current stakes-placed juvenile Wealthy Aviator (Henny

Hughes) and a yearling filly by Any Given Saturday. This is the family of

undefeated Grade 2 star Kantharos (Lion Heart), whose career was halted by

injury this summer, as well as multiple Grade 1 hero and sire First Samurai

(Giant's Causeway).