ARCADIA, Calif. – A patient trip on the inside led to a first-ever American turf stakes win for Missed the Cut in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita. Sent off favored in a field of six, Missed the Cut ($4.40) closed from third to take the lead in early stretch. Ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer John Sadler, Missed the Cut led by a half-length with a furlong remaining and won by 1 1/4 lengths over 2-1 Planetario. Balladeer, also 2-1, finished third after setting the pace, but was disqualified and placed fourth for bumping with Irish Prophet in early stretch. Irish Prophet was promoted from fourth to third. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Rosario said he tracked Balladeer expecting that rival would tire under jockey Victor Espinoza. “I just waited and it looked like he was out of horse,” Rosario said of Espinoza. Missed the Cut responded well when urged in the stretch. “I thought I’d get a jump,” Rosario said. “He finished really well for me.” Missed the Cut ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.14 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 100. Planetario closed from last of six to reach contention in early stretch of the San Marcos, but could not catch Missed the Cut. “He got the jump on us,” trainer Richard Mandella said. Eastern Ocean finished fifth, followed by Shortman in the field of six. The $100,500 San Marcos Stakes was scheduled for last Sunday, but was postponed because of rain.  Sadler said Missed the Cut will be kept to turf races this year, and that a trip to Royal Ascot in Britain in June is under consideration. In 2022, Missed the Cut won the Golden Gates Handicap at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Ascot when trained by George Boughey. Missed the Cut has raced in Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, and California. Since joining Sadler’s stable in early 2023, Missed the Cut has won 2 of 8 starts and earned $277,700. With his experience overseas, including racing on turf rated as less-than-firm, Missed the Cut may have had an advantage in the San Marcos Stakes. The course was listed as good on Saturday after extensive rain earlier in the week. “He had a lot of things in his favor,” Sadler said. “He probably benefited by running on different courses in Europe.” The San Marcos was the 2024 debut for Missed the Cut who was second in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. The San Marcos was the first start for Planetario since a win in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 24. Missed the Cut, a 5-year-old horse by Quality Road, has won 6 of 14 starts and earned $385,777. Missed the Cut won the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Santa Anita last October, but was last of 12 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4. Missed the Cut races for the partnership of Bee Zee LLC, Lanes End Racing, St. Elias Stable, Edward Babington, and Edward and Lynne Hudson. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.