Although a close third in his most recent graded stakes assignment in Kentucky, trainer Jeff Mullins' Itsinthepost appears well positioned to reassert his dominance over the Southern California turf division as heads a field of eight 3-year-olds and up in Saturday's Grade II, $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes, to be contested at a mile and a quarter over the Santa Anita turf.

A winner of three consecutive graded turf stakes earlier this year, French-bred Itsinthpost was beaten three quarters of a length as the 2-1 favorite going a mile and a half in a Grade II Stakes at Keeneland April 21.

California-bred What a View broke a three-game skid with a gate to wire score going a mile on turf in the Grade III American Stakes April 21 and he'll try to stretch his speed an extra quarter mile in the Whittingham.

Third to What a View in the American, Kenjisstorm makes his third start for trainer Richard Baltas on Saturday, while Phil D'Amato's Irish-bred Syntax returns from Northern California in search of a hot pace.

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ITSINTHEPOST

A gem of consistency, this 6-year-old gelding has had a remarkable run since joining the Mullins stable in April, 2016, winning eight of his 19 starts there-including six graded stakes.

A winner of the Grade II San Gabriel Stakes Jan. 6, the Grade II San Marcos Stakes Feb. 3 and the Grade II San Luis Rey Stakes March 24, at turf distances of 1 1/8 miles, 1 1/4 miles and 1 1/2 miles, Itsinthepost has clearly established himself at the top of the local turf class.

A horse who tends to wait on his competition if he makes the lead too soon, it'll once again be up to Tyler Baze to time his move right in what will be his 27th try aboard the Red Baron's Barn color bearer. With an overall mark of 34-9-7-6, Itsinthepost has earnings of $1,120,712.

Owner: Red Baron's Barn, LLC

Trainer: Jeff Mullins

WHAT A VIEW

A Grade I winner at one mile on turf, What a View's connections considered running in Monday's Grade I Shoemaker Mile, but opted instead to stretch his considerable speed out an extra quarter mile in the Whittingham.

Deftly managed by Black over parts of four racing seasons, this 7-year-old California-bred gelding by Vronsky would eclipse the $1 million mark in earnings with a victory on Saturday.

With an overall mark of 24-8-5-0, What a View has earnings of $885,361 and he'll be trying a mile and a quarter for the first time.

Owner: Finish Line Racing, LLC, The Ellwood Johnston Trust and Taste of Victory Stables

Trainer: Kenny Black

KENJISSTORM

A 6-year-old full horse by Stormy Atlantic, he comes off a third place finish, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by What a View, in the Grade III, one mile turf American Stakes here on April 21.

A sharp classified allowance winner going a mile on turf two starts back in his first start in his first start for Baltas March 29, Kenjisstorm was a close second in his only try at a mile and a quarter on turf-a first condition allowance some 16 starts back in January, 2016.

With Flavien Prat set to ride him back for the third consecutive time, he figures to be close to the early pace which could likely be set by What a View.

With an overall mark of 30-5-4-3, Kenjisstorm is still in search of his first graded stakes victory.

Owner: Head of Plains Partners, LLC and KM Racing Enterprise, Inc. and J. Carillo

Trainer: Phil D'Amato

SYNTAX

A fast finishing fourth in the Grade III San Francisco Mile (turf) on March 31 at Golden Gate Fields, Irish-bred Syntax, who was third, beaten a half length in last year's Whittingham, will be making his third start off a long layoff and could be sitting on a huge effort from off the pace.

Ridden by upstart Geovanni Franco in his last two starts (fourth in the Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile March 10), Syntax seeks his first Grade I win and his second graded stakes victory in the Whittingham.

Owner: Matthew Shera

Trainer: Phil D'Amato

About the Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita Park

The Charles Whittingham Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses age three years old and older over a distance of 1 1/4 miles on the turf held annually in late May at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, USA. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

The event was inaugurated in 1969 as the Hollywood Invitational Handicap over a distance of 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

The event was run at a distance of a 1 1/2 miles from 1969 to 1987 and recently 2015. From 1989 until 1998, the race was named the Hollywood Turf Handicap.

In 1999 the event was renamed to Charles Whittingham Handicap and in 2003 to Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap in honor of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham (1913-1999) who saddled many memorable winners at Hollywood Park and whose seven victories in the Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap race was the most for any trainer. It had been equaled since.

In 2014 when Hollywood Park Racetrack closed the race was moved to Santa Anita Park and renamed to it current name.

Originally a Grade I event, the event was downgraded in 2013 to Grade II.