Stanford Scores a Big Cap Day Double

Arcadia, CA (March 1, 2025) – Stanford, who currently leads the 2025 California sire lists by number of winners with 21, had sons Book Smart and Roman Gratis showcase their talents with visits to the winner’s circle at Santa Anita Park on Big Cap Day.

Roman Gratis was first up in the 4th race looking to right his own wrong last time out. The 3-year-old was fourth on debut and then the gelding finished first to the wire in his second start. However, he was disqualified back to third for a bumping incident. Today, his trip was clean and clear. He popped out of the gate from post three in the six and one-half furlong dirt contest. Jockey Edwin Maldonado let him roll along, clicking off fractions of 21.50 and 44.11 to the half. Challenges were launched around the turn and emerged through the stretch, but he held them all safe to win by a length and one-quarter in 1:17.41.

Roman Gratis races for the partnership of C T R Stables, LLC, Pappas Horse Racing Corp, and Charles Bartlett and he is trained by Luis Mendez. Produced by the More Than Ready mare, Shez Coming in Hot, he was bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds.

Two races later, 6-year-old Book Smart galloped the field into submission in the $87,286 allowance. Using his formidable early foot, the gray gelding was first out of the gate and dueled to a hard-earned early lead. He opened up a clear lead around the turn and was five lengths clear in the stretch. He was geared down to the wire by jockey Mike Smith and won far more easily than the official margin of just over a length would indicate. He stopped the clock 1:09.89.

Book Smart has six victories and five addition to three finishes in seventeen lifetime starts and he has earned $222,245 for the group of Eduardo Bernal, Larry S. Buckendorf, Charlotte A. Bullard, Tyler Harringer, and Jeffrey Harringer. Trained by Bob Hess, Jr., he was bred by Grasshopper Racing Stable, Inc., Jack Fabulich and Jill Fabulich. He is out of the winning With Distinction mare, Magic Lily.