Cheyenne Stable LLC’s Grade 1-placed Mondego (GB) will make his first start of the new year in the San Marco S. (G3) on Valentine’s Day at Santa Anita Park.

After a strong rallying third in the Dec. 28 San Gabriel S. (G3), Mondego has trained well up to the 1 ¼-mile San Marcos as he seeks his first graded stakes win.

Mondego will face several familiar turf marathon foes as he begins his 6-year-old campaign, including Gold Phoenix (IRE) and True Quality, both of whom captured graded turf races on the southern California circuit last autumn.

The San Marcos drew a field of nine, with Mondego in post 5 for trainer Mike McCarthy and jockey Emisael Jaramillo. The San Marcos is race 7 on the card with a post time of 6:37 pm ET.