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The Grade 2 Strub Stakes, the third and final leg of Santa Anita's Strub Series for 4-year-olds, is set for Feb. 4. Among those slated to compete in the 65th Strub Stakes is Tapizar, who took the second leg of the Strub Series with a comprehensive victory in the 1 1/16-mile San Fernando Stakes on Jan. 14.

In Santa Anita's Strub Series, the races gradually increase in distance beginning with the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes traditionally run on opening day. It continues with the San Fernando and culminates with the 1 1/8-mile Strub Stakes.

Only five horses have ever swept the Strub Series. They are Round Table (1958), Hillsdale (1959), Ancient Title (1974), Spectacular Bid (1980) and Precisionist (1985). All but Hillsdale were subsequently inducted into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame.

The Strub Stakes was first run in 1948 when it was known as the Santa Anita Maturity. It gained its current name in 1963 in recognition of Charles H. Strub, the former owner of Santa Anita.

While Tapizar can't sweep the Strub Series, winning two of the three legs is a pretty high honor in its own right. The son of Tapit had an injury plagued 3-year-old season, but his dominating win in the San Fernando marked him as one to watch in the older horse division this year. A win in the Strub would make Tapizar a leading contender in the prestigious Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap later in the meet.

“He was unfortunate to get hurt (last season),” trainer Steve Asmussen said of Tapizar. “We were very pleased with his win in the San Fernando. Hopefully we won't get off track with him this year.”

Other contenders for the 2012 Strub Stakes include millionaire Prayer for Relief and Jaycito for trainer Bob Baffert; and Ultimate Eagle, who is a Grade 1 winner on grass but is unproven at this level on a dirt track.

A win in the historic Strub Stakes would put any of these horses in the upper echelon nationally of older horses, Additionally, a win by one of Baffert's runners would put him atop all trainers in number of Strub Stakes victories. Currently, he is tied with five other trainers with three wins apiece. That list includes the likes of Charlie Whittingham, Bobby Frankel and Richard Mandella, which is about as exclusive of company as you can be with when it comes to all-time California-based trainers.

As is seemingly the case with most of Santa Anita's major stakes, Bill Shoemaker has the most Strub victories among jockeys with seven. Shoemaker won his first Strub Stakes with Great Circle in 1951 and won his last aboard Spectacular Bid in 1980.