Planetario scores a repeat win in San Juan Capistrano

For the second year in a row, Planetario took down Santa Anita’s traditional closing-day Sunday feature, the Grade 3, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf.

Planetario, the favorite at 3-5, was ridden again by Hector Berrios for trainer Richard Mandella. He reeled in stubborn leader Rockemperor in the final 100 yards to win by a neck. He also broke his own course record for the marathon distance in the process. Planetario’s final time of 2:46.95 bested last year’s mark of 2:48.08.

In addition to a course record, Planetario became the first back-to-back winner of the San Juan Capistrano since T.H Approval in 2005 and 2006 for late trainer Eduardo Inda.

Rockemperor (5-2), ridden by Antonio Fresu, finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of third-place finisher Rimprotector (12-1). Rimprotector, with Kyle Frey up, also finished third in last year’s San Juan Capistrano for trainer Tim McCanna.

Berrios said he was “very confident” Planetario would be able to run down Rockemperor in the late going.

“I rode him with patience and he gave me a good finish,” Berrios added.

After the race, Fresu contemplated whether he might have moved too early on Rockemperor. On the final turn, Fresu angled out Rockemperor for racing room and they seized control at the top of the stretch.

“At some point I had to go and try to get the momentum,” Fresu said. “That is how the track is playing. It is playing very speed favoring, so at some point I had to go. Maybe I should have waited a little bit longer, but I just asked when the horse was ready to go. He went and he never slowed down. The other horse just caught me.”

For Mandella, this was the third San Juan Capistrano win in his Hall of Fame career.

“He is an old pro. He knows what he is doing and he likes his job,” Mandella said. “He has a great mind and running in a race like that, that’s what you need.”

Bred in Brazil, Planetario is a 6-year-old horse by Il Doge. He improved to 19: 8-3-1 with $390,548 in earnings for owner-breeder Red Rafa Stud. In three previous starts this year, he was third most recently in the Charles Whittingham (G2) May 4, and second in both the San Luis Rey (G3) and San Marcos (G3).

Planetario paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10 for the popular victory. Rockemperor, trained by Phil D’Amato, returned $3.20 and $2.40. Rimprotector paid $3.80.

Fractions for the race were 48.35, 1:12.67, 1:39.47, 2:06.04 and 2:31.32

Live racing at Santa Anita will return with the start of the autumn meet Sept. 27.