Big Beyer debut winner Vlahos sold, transferred to O'Neill

Vlahos, the dazzling winner of a maiden race for 3-year-old sprinters in his debut at Santa Anita on Saturday, was sold earlier this week to Ty Leatherman and Todd Cady and transferred to trainer Doug O’Neill.

The transaction was confirmed by O’Neill and previous trainer Luis Mendez.

Mendez said Vlahos, a ridgling, left his stable on Tuesday. The sale price was not disclosed.

“He ran impressive,” Mendez said. “Our team did our job and the owner decided to sell him.”

Vlahos, by Kantharos, led throughout the maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs, pulling clear to win by 4 1/2 lengths in the quick time of 1:15.75. Vlahos earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

Purchased for $35,000 as a yearling, Vlahos was previously owned by Dan Northup.

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Vlahos joins an O’Neill stable in outstanding form. Through Thursday, O’Neill leads all trainers at the current Santa Anita winter-spring meeting with 25 wins, four more than Mark Glatt.

Mendez has a recent history of selling leading prospects from his stable.

In 2020, he was the first trainer of Dr. Schivel, who won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. Later trained by Glatt after a partial sale, Dr. Schivel won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in 2021 and was second by a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint there the same year.

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