San Vicente Stakes (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
SA- For Three Year Olds
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
February 6, 2021

It’s time for the 18th running of the Grade 2 Vicente, which is a seven furlong race for three year olds and one that will always have a special place in my heart. When you have not won many graded stakes, it’s easy to remember the ones that you have. The field for this one is a little surprising at first glance, in that there is not a single runner in the field that has made at least $100.000 in their careers. In 2020, this race was won by Arindel, and Genghis, but it would end up being the last race that Genghis would win. We’ll see if this year’s winner can be headed for bigger and better things, but first let’s look at our runners!

#1- Sensei (Barcelona Farms, ridden by J J Hernandez)- When Barcelona Farms entered this horse, he probably wasn’t expecting that he would be the highest earner in the race, but his $90.600 in earnings is indeed just that! Gelded after running midpack in the Bourbon, he would win the $50.000 Golden Nugget a month later and was second in the Grade 3 Sham last month.

#2- Rotarian (Mb Stables, ridden by F Prat)- Mb Stables is looking for his first win in this stake, and he brings to us this maiden. Rotarian has made just two starts, and did place second in a SA maiden a couple weeks ago. Sure, this field might not be the strongest, but I still like to look for those who’ve been able to win at least one.

#3- Head Of The Dead (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by Ru Gonzalez)- Not much experience on this one either, as he has also only made two starts. At least he has won one of them, which came on debut at TUP in November. Mo Mentum liked him a lot, and picked up for $150.010 in private sales a month later. He’s run him once since, and he did not fare well against FL-breds in an allowance.

#4- Greatest Game (Fractious, ridden by A Cedillo)- In 2019, Fractious pulled off the win here in a dead heat with a horse named Rainstorm, who would go on to have an outstanding season. He would love for Greatest Game to follow suit. So far, the gelding has one win in three starts, coming at CD in November. He tried going a mile in his last start, and he ran well before fizzling out late. Did he need just one less furlong there? If so, then he’ll be happy to see the wire a little earlier.

#5- Caleb Toothpaste (Night Rider Stables, ridden by V Espinza)- Exceeded expectations once, winning an ON-bred stake as a maiden in November against four others, but has otherwise been a back runner. Out of the combined 29 other horses he has raced against in those three races, he has beaten a total of four of them. I’ll pass.

#6- Counterintelligence (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by G Corrales)- Another maiden in this race, and I’m never a fan of picking one. I have a harder time doing so when one has run four times already, and doesn’t have a second place finish, either. You never know in his game, but he’s not for me.

#7- Shining Rubicon (Arindel, ridden by Ru Fuentes)- Arindel looks for his second straight win in the San Vicente, and the Crossing The Rubicon gelding has been running quite well ever since being moved back to the main track from the grass. Has one appearance in a stake, and he ran third in the $75.000 Limehouse. Looks like he can be a contender here.

Prediction: 1-4-7-3

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES