by Mike Curry

Grade 2 winner Salute the Sarge made a triumphant return from a five-month layoff with a 1 3/4-length victory on Saturday at Santa Anita Park in the $78,000 San Miguel Stakes.

Trained by Eric Guillot for owner Southern Equine Stable, the Forest Wildcat colt made his first start since an unplaced finish in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park.

Salute the Sarge, winner of the Best Pal (G2) and Hollywood Juvenile Championship (G3) Stakes as a juvenile, dropped back to last of five horses in his season debut under jockey Michael Baze.

Red Sky Dubai, Sea of Pleasure, and Possibi dueled for the lead through an opening quarter in :21.47 in the six-furlong race for three-year-olds. Stakes winner Sea of Pleasure opened a clear lead in early stretch, but Salute the Sarge unleashed his winning bid entering the stretch and powered clear to prevail in 1:09.07.

Grade 3-placed stakes winner Leonides rallied from fourth to finish second, a half-length in front of Sea of Pleasure.

Salute the Sarge improved to four wins in seven starts and boosted his earnings to $333,340. Bred in Kentucky by Gulf Coast Farms, Salute the Sarge is a half brother to Grade 3 winner Chelokee and one of four winners from as many starters out of Grade 2-placed winner Dixie Ghost, by Silver Ghost.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor