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The Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes is the second leg of Santa Anita Park's historic Strub Series for 4-year-olds. The 2012 edition, to be run Jan. 14, has drawn a competitive field of eight contenders led by Grade 3 winner Tapizar for trainer Steve Asmussen and multiple Grade 2 winner Prayer for Relief for trainer Bob Baffert. The 1 1/16-mile San Fernando is preceded in the Strub Series by the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes, which was won this year by The Factor. The quick colt, who is also trained by Baffert, is bypassing the longer San Fernando in order to stay in sprint races. The Strub Series culminates with the Grade 2, 1 1/8-mile Strub Stakes on Feb. 4. Prayer for Relief will be making his first start since an off-the-board finish in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs Nov. 11. The son of Jump Start put together a lucrative 3-year-old season that included four wins in six starts and earnings of $982,845. Prayer for Relief earned his connections plenty of frequent flier miles in 2011 as he shipped to win the Grade 3 Iowa Derby, Grade 2 West Virginia Derby, and Grade 2 Super Derby in Louisiana. Tapizar returns to the scene of his biggest win in 2011. The son of Tapit won the Sham Stakes here last January to launch his 3-year-old campaign. Horses that perform well in the San Fernando and/or the Strub Stakes will generally go on to run in the historic Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap later in the meet. First run in 1952, the San Fernando Stakes has been won by some of racing's greatest Thoroughbreds. Previous winners include the likes of Round Table (1958), Buckpasser (1967), Damascus (1968) and Spectacular Bid (1980). Winners of more recent vintage include Best Pal (1992), Bertrando (1993), Silver Charm (1998) and Tiznow (2001). The San Fernando Stakes was contested at 1 1/8-miles from 1960 to 1997. The fastest running of the San Fernando at its current distance was by Air Command, who blazed the 1 1/16-miles in 1:40.16 in 2008. The fastest running at 1 1/8-miles was 1:46.60 by In Excess in 1991. Laz Barrera and Bob Baffert lead all trainers with four San Fernando wins apiece. Barrera's wins came with Kirby Lane (1977), It's the One (1982), Wavering Monarch (1983), and Mi Preferido (1989). Baffert has won the San Fernando Stakes with Silver Charm (1998), During (2004), Air Command (2008) and Indian Firewater (2011). The legendary Willie Shoemaker won eight San Fernando's to lead all jockeys. Shoemaker's first win came in 1955 aboard Poona II and his last was aboard Spectacular Bid in 1980.
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