Iron Rob has eye on San Vicente

ARCADIA, Calif. – Iron Rob beat maidens at Los Alamitos in December and will race against winners for the first time in an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on Sunday. The optional claimer could lead to a start in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs here Feb. 15, trainer George Papaprodromou said on Friday.

“That’s our next step,” he said. “We’ll keep him short for now.”

Owned by Kretz Racing, Iron Rob won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs, racing near the lead with a wide trip. He finished seventh in a maiden race on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 8, his only start on that surface.

“I’ve always liked him,” Papaprodromou said. “We tried him on turf, and he didn’t run very well.”

The optional claimer drew a field of seven, including I Will Score, a sharp maiden-race winner at Los Alamitos in September in his only start; Rockin Bayou, who was fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in September; and Uncle Lino, a maiden-race winner at Del Mar on Nov. 29.

I Will Score is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and has worked well in recent weeks, including six furlongs in 1:12.60 from the gate at Santa Anita on Dec. 12. Hollendorfer said he was disappointed that I Will Score drew the rail for Sunday’s race.