ARCADIA, Calif. – Even though it is a short race with a small field, the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds could have long-lasting significance.
Five colts, led by stakes winner Bullard and highly rated debut winner Barnes, entered the seven-furlong San Vicente, race 5 on Saturday at Santa Anita. The year’s first graded race for Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby aspirants, the $200,000 San Vicente is more than a two-horse race.
In addition to Bullard and Barnes, the field includes fast debut winner Romanesque, better-than-looked debut winner Smooth Cruisein, and multiple stakes-placed McKinzie Street. Bullard is the most accomplished, having won the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes by more than four lengths.
Michael McCarthy trains Bullard, a Gun Runner colt who won a maiden race at six furlongs and the Bob Hope at seven. In winning the Bob Hope with an 89 Beyer Speed Figure, Bullard defeated next-out maiden winner Madaket Road. Normally, the next race for Bullard would be two turns.
“The Sham would’ve been a perfect segue for a horse like” Bullard, McCarthy noted.
But the Sham, a one-mile race traditionally run in January, was discontinued last year. McCarthy must wait to stretch out Bullard.
“I’m not worried about the horse stretching out, it’s how you get to [longer] races,” he said. “He’s ready to run. It’s either wait for the Bob Lewis, which is a month away, or run in the San Vicente with the absence of a ship. Running seven-eighths again, I don’t think will bother him.”
Umberto Rispoli rides Bullard, the 3-5 program favorite who won his first two starts rallying from last. It’s a problematic style on a speed-friendly track – 13 of the first 17 sprints this winter at Santa Anita were won by horses positioned first or second after the opening quarter-mile.
Although favorites won four of the last five San Vicentes, and 7 of 14 since dirt was reinstalled at Santa Anita, Bullard is no cinch against rivals with speed trained by 13-time San Vicente winner Bob Baffert. Baffert entered Barnes and Romanesque in the San Vicente. Both won first time out.
Barnes, a $3.2 million yearling, shipped to Churchill Downs to debut Nov. 27. It was Baffert’s first Churchill runner since the track lifted its ban. Barnes was bet to 34 cents on the dollar and won by a head.
“He shipped, he went somewhere he’d never been, it was a tough race, they ran fast, he got hooked early, he got it done. He overcame a lot,” Baffert said.
Barnes earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure that was validated when runner-up Innovator won two starts later with the same number.
Juan Hernandez replaces Martin Garcia as rider for Barnes, who outworked Romanesque in a Dec. 22 gate drill. Hernandez rode Romanesque first out; Mike Smith takes over on Romanesque on Saturday. Baffert suggested not selling Romanesque short.
“He’s fast. He’s a big strong [colt]. He looks like a 3-year-old,” Baffert said in December, adding Barnes and Romanesque “both look like 3-year-olds. They’re very mature horses.”
Romanesque earned an 84 Beyer winning his debut. The runner-up, Rodriguez, also trained by Baffert, is odds-on to win a mile maiden race Saturday, race 2.
:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.
The stablemates Barnes and Romanesque have speed, while rail-drawn McKinzie Street also has produced speed. McKinzie Street dueled on a blazing pace in the Bob Hope last out and finished third. Antonio Fresu rides McKinzie Street for trainer Tim Yakteen.
The dark horse in the San Vicente is Smooth Cruisein, a Girvin colt trained by Karen Headley. The Oct. 27 debut by Smooth Cruisein was an adventure before he even got on the racetrack.
“He was worse than rambunctious,” Headley said. “He did everything that you shouldn’t do. He literally got loose” in the paddock.
Smooth Cruisein was corraled by a fan, jockey Ricky Gonzalez climbed on, and the colt did the rest. Fourth early, he rallied to a half-length victory with a 79 Beyer. Third-place Journalism flattered the race by subsequently winning a maiden race and the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity.
Headley considered the ultimate equipment change for the unruly Smooth Cruisein.
“I was thinking about cutting him, until after that race,” she said. “So, we’re just gonna put up with that stuff. He’s gonna act like a boy, no matter what.
“If I didn’t think he was as good as he was, I would’ve never started him at 2,” Headley said. “I knew what he was. I’ve been around enough of my dad’s horses to know. [Smooth Cruisein] is one of the reasons I keep getting up in the morning.”
Headley’s father is the late trainer, Bruce Headley.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.