Havnameltdown's speed proves too much in San Vicente
ARCADIA, Calif. – Seven furlongs was the right distance for Havnameltdown and too short for stablemate Faustin in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita.
Trainer Bob Baffert won the San Vicente, for 3-year-olds, for the 12th time Saturday as Havnameltdown and jockey Juan Hernandez led gate to wire to win by a length and one-half in 1:22.29. Faustin finished second, more than eight lengths clear of stablemate Fort Warren. Ryan Hanson-trained Man Child finished fourth and last. Gilmore was scratched.
“Havnameltdown is just a top-class sprinter,” Baffert said. “But he’s definitely a one-turn horse.”
Havnameltdown paid $4 as the favorite.
The win by Havnameltdown was his third in a graded stake, following a pair of Grade 3’s at Del Mar – the Best Pal in August and Bob Hope in November. The next race for Havnameltdown is on the other side of the world. Baffert plans to ship Havnameltdown and Speed Boat Beach to Saudi Arabia for the $1.5 million Saudi Cup, a one-turn mile on the $20 million Saudi Cup undercard.
Havnameltdown and Faustin will accompany Baffert-trained Saudi Cup probable starters Taiba and Country Grammer to the Middle East. Taiba and Country Grammer worked in company early Sunday morning. They went five furlongs in 59.20, heads up.
San Vicente winner Havnameltdown, an Uncaptured colt purchased for $200,000 as a 2-year-old, has won four races and $408,000 from five starts, all for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. His only loss was a runner-up finish to stablemate Cave Rock in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity.
Meanwhile, lightly raced runner-up Faustin is begging for more ground. A come-from-behind debut winner at six furlongs on Dec. 26, Faustin was making his second start in the San Vicente.
“He wants to go longer,” Baffert said. “He’s still carrying a lot of weight; he’s not there yet. Racing is going to help him.”
Faustin, by Curlin, likely will stretch to a route next out. Jockey Ramon Vazquez said Faustin “just needs a little more ground.”
“When he runs a mile, a mile and a sixteenth, he’s going to be a big horse,” Vazquez said.
Faustin raced third behind the speed, was under a ride on the turn, and narrowed the gap late without threatening the winner.
Fort Warren raced in fourth position in the San Vicente and passed Man Child, who briefly pressed Havnameltdown from the outside and backed up.
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