San Vicente could end up being launching pad to classics

ARCADIA, Calif. – The five runners in Sunday’s Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds are only maiden-race winners. But the San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs might propel some of them into the major Triple Crown preps of March.

Aquamarine, Battle of Midway, Iliad, and Law Abidin Citizen each won a maiden sprint in his last start. Blabimir won a maiden race in December and was pulled up in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes here on Jan. 7 in his stakes debut.

Battle of Midway had a sharp debut in a six-furlong race on a wet-fast track Jan. 21, drawing off to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Iliad won a six-furlong maiden race at Los Alamitos on Dec. 18. He was transferred from trainer Bob Baffert to Doug O’Neill two weeks later after a breakup between Baffert and owner Kaleem Shah.

In the $200,000 San Vicente, Baffert will start Aquamarine, the winner of a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on a muddy track Jan. 13 in his debut. Law Abidin Citizen has the most experience in the field. Trained by Mark Glatt, Law Abidin Citizen had his first start last June. The gelding needed five races to beat maidens, doing so at 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 29.

Much of the betting focus will be on Battle of Midway and Iliad, who each won in a manner that suggests that longer races will suit them.

KEY CONTENDERS

Battle of Midway, by Smart Strike

Beyer: 88

◗ Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for Rick Porter, Battle of Midway fought for the early lead before taking command in his only start. Drayden Van Dyke rode Battle of Midway that day but is out with a broken arm. Mike Smith has the mount.

“We don’t think we’re out of our league to run in that race,” Hollendorfer said of the San Vicente.

Iliad, by Ghostzapper

Beyers: 92-58

◗ Iliad was ninth in his debut at Del Mar on Dec. 3 but was much sharper 15 days later. In his win, Iliad stalked the pace for the first three furlongs before taking the lead early in the long stretch at Los Alamitos.

◗ Iliad drew the outside post for the San Vicente, leading O’Neill to hope for a stalking trip.

“He’s a pro, very straightforward, and really has us optimistic,” O’Neill said.

Aquamarine, by Gemologist

Beyer: 81

◗ Owned by Zayat Stables, Aquamarine has been a project, Baffert said.

“He’s been a little bit of a head case in the mornings,” Baffert said. “He’s a little speed crazy.”

◗ In his only start, Aquamarine took the lead in the final sixteenth and won by 1 3/4 lengths.

◗ For the San Vicente, Aquamarine has drawn post 2, which is farther inside than Baffert said he would prefer.

Blabimir, by Tapizar

Beyers: 77-55

◗ Blabimir has been pulled up in two races and finished two races. He was pulled up in a maiden race at seven furlongs Nov. 6 and returned to win at Los Alamitos on Dec. 9. In the Sham Stakes, Blabimir had a troubled start and was out of contention with a quarter-mile remaining in the one-mile race.