Santa Anita
San Vicente Stakes (Post Time: 3:36) Surface: Dirt
7 Furlongs | Open | 3 Year Olds | G2 STAKES | Purse: $150,000
$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Daily Double / $1 Rolling Pick Three (Races 7-8-9) $1 Superfecta (.10 Min.)
The San Vicente is a critical race for aspiring three-year old colts. Not only is it a key steppingstone to the Santa Anita Derby, but the winner has gone on to win the Kentucky Derby nine times. American Act (4-1), trained by Jack Carava, is taking an atypical route to today’s event, making a huge jump in class straight from a wire-to-wire victory in a MSW at Santa Anita last month. Concerning American Act's chances of running in Louisville on the first Saturday in May, Carava boasted to a Daily Racing Form (DRF) correspondent, “Pedigree-wise he may run long. He’s got a stride like a route horse...this race (San Vicente) will tell us how we go forward.” In a short field with only two black-type winners, Racing Mogul is backing the gelding’s chances to take advantage of circumstances and become a shock Derby candidate.
San Vicente Stakes (Post Time: 3:36) Surface: Dirt
7 Furlongs | Open | 3 Year Olds | G2 STAKES | Purse: $150,000
$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Daily Double / $1 Rolling Pick Three (Races 7-8-9) $1 Superfecta (.10 Min.)
The San Vicente is a critical race for aspiring three-year old colts. Not only is it a key steppingstone to the Santa Anita Derby, but the winner has gone on to win the Kentucky Derby nine times. American Act (4-1), trained by Jack Carava, is taking an atypical route to today’s event, making a huge jump in class straight from a wire-to-wire victory in a MSW at Santa Anita last month. Concerning American Act's chances of running in Louisville on the first Saturday in May, Carava boasted to a Daily Racing Form (DRF) correspondent, “Pedigree-wise he may run long. He’s got a stride like a route horse...this race (San Vicente) will tell us how we go forward.” In a short field with only two black-type winners, Racing Mogul is backing the gelding’s chances to take advantage of circumstances and become a shock Derby candidate.
Perhaps the most impressive angle bettors will target with American Act is the second place horse he defeated last time out, Bodemeister. The Zayat owned colt trained by Bob Baffert blazed a clock-stopping effort in his second MSW effort last weekend, flashing the field by over nine lengths in a hand ride. The performance generated whispers of a late-blooming Derby contender, and thus far he looks just as impressive as most in today’s field. American Act won the race with an above-average early pace and padded his lead in the end, making the effort that much more impressive.
Drill (9-2), the winner of the Grade I Del Mar Futurity last September, has fallen flat his last few out. Stuck four wide in his last start, the 6.5f San Pedro Stakes, he sputtered down the stretch. Baffert tested him at route distances and on multiple surfaces prior to the sprint effort, giving the lifeless colt a few excuses for his poor performances leading up to today’s race. Drill’s most recent works have been far from “drilled” which makes morning watchers believe Baffert is deviating from his bullet breezes as a strategy to resuscitate a weakened horse. We think he rebounds today with a better trip, new work-out pattern, and preferred conditions.
The Grade I Norfolk Stakes winner, Creative Cause (3-5), enters his first race since an impressive third-place finish in the BC Juvenile. Trainer Mike Harrington’s reaction to today’s race worries us a bit, as he is treating the San Pedro as more of a tune up to the colt’s next start. “This is a big race, but he doesn’t have to win,” Harrington warned the DRF. “If he wins, fine. I expect him to run well. But I’m just trying to get a race into him.” If caught in an awkward situation, jockey Joel Rosario may play the race cautiously and settle for a money finish.
1. American Act
2. Drill
3. Creative Cause
