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If not the horse to beat, Tapizar is clearly the one to catch at Santa Anita Saturday when he squares off against seven rivals in the Grade 2, $150,000 San Fernando Stakes for four-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

"He's very fast, and they're going to have to pick up their feet to beat him," jockey Corey Nakatani said of the Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred son of Tapit.

Tapizar returned from a lengthy layoff with a sharp score over optional claiming rivals at Belmont Park on October 8, and will be making his first start Saturday since a fifth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs on November 5. Nakatani, who was up for the optional claiming score two back, has also guided Tapizar through a pair of recent six-furlong workouts in Arcadia, California.

The venerable San Fernando serves as a stepping stone to Santa Anita's historic Grade 2 Strub Stakes for four-year-olds on February 4 as well as the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 3.

Nakatani, who was up two starts back at Belmont Park, has also guided Tapizar through a pair of quick recent works at six furlongs.

Prayer for Relief, a three-time derby winner in 2011 for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, is a top challenger. The dark bay son of Jump Start reeled off consecutive wins in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby, Grade 2 West Virginia Derby and Grade 2 Super Derby before missing by less than one length in the Oklahoma Derby. He has been freshened off a ninth in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on November 25.

Rafael Bejarano, aboard for Prayer for Relief's last five starts, has the return assignment. Prayer for Relief has already earned more than $1 million from his 10-5-1-1 career line and the colt will be forced to spot each of his rivals five pounds as the 123-pound high weight.

Irish Art, runner-up to Mr. Commons in the Grade 2 Sir Beaufort Stakes on December 26, will be racing on dirt for the first time. Joel Rosario has the call for trainer Carla Gaines. Balladry is coming off a pair of solid efforts in allowance competition, including a 2 3/4-length win over Santa Anita's main track on October 28. Joe Talamo rides the gray Eoin Harty pupil.

Rounding out the San Fernando field is multiple Grade 1-placed Riveting Reason; dual Grade 3-placed Dreaminofthewin; Spud Spivens, who exits a third in the On Trust Handicap; and First Strike, who captured the December 3 Zia Park Derby after being claimed for $40,000 two starts back.

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