Creative Cause gears up for San Vicente Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Creative Cause will make his first start since November in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita next Sunday, and the two-time stakes winner is more than ready, trainer Mike Harrington said.

The winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes in October and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November, Creative Cause worked six furlongs in 1:11.40 at Hollywood Park on Sunday, his final major exercise before the Grade 2 San Vicente over seven furlongs.

“I think he’s on his game,” Harrington said.

Owned by Heinz Steinmann, Creative Cause worked in company with a stablemate and closed from just off the pace to finish in front, Harrington said.

“He just sat behind the other horse,” Harrington said. “He galloped out strongly.”

Creative Cause had the fastest of 17 recorded works at the distance. He has worked quickly at other times in recent weeks. On Jan. 28 at Hollywood Park, the colt worked six furlongs in 1:11.60, the fastest of 20 works at the distance.

Creative Cause has won 3 of 5 starts and $521,000. He has won two stakes, including the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar last August. The Norfolk Stakes is his only start on Santa Anita’s main track.

The seven-furlong San Vicente will have a small field. The other candidates include Secret Circle, winner of the BC Juvenile Sprint in November; Captain Obvious, fourth in the Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park in November; and the maiden race winners American Act and Smoking G.

On Sunday at Hollywood Park, Smoking G worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds, the fastest of 30 recorded works at the distance.

Secret Circle has started once since the BC Juvenile Sprint, finishing second to Out of Bounds in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes over a mile on Jan. 7.