Sparky Ville has big win in San Vicente

ARCADIA, Calif. - With a failed turf experiment behind him, Sparky Ville resumed racing in main track sprints in Sunday’s Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita - and recorded the biggest win of his career.

The $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds was Sparky Ville’s third win in seven starts and his first victory since October.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Sparky Ville ($16.80) saved ground to the turn and rallied wide in the stretch to finish a nose in front of 2-1 Dessman. Coliseum, the 7-10 favorite, finished 6 1/2 lengths behind Dessman, offering no threat in the final quarter-mile.

Dessman and Coliseum both broke slowly, but were within a half-length of the front after a quarter-mile.

Sparky Ville finished seven furlongs in 1:21.93 on a wet-fast track, and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 94. For the first half-mile, Rosario had Sparky Ville on the inside following 6-1 Savagery, who faded from contention on the turn.

“It looked like the horse in front was out of horse,” Rosario said. “I still had some horse left.”

Rosario moved Sparky Ville to the outside of Savagery, Coliseum, and Dessman to reach contention in the final furlong. Dessman, ridden by Flavien Prat, led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining, but could not sustain the advantage.

Prat said Dessman fought back against Sparky Ville when challenged in the final strides.

“He re-engaged when he felt him, but it was too late,” Prat said. “I think I might have moved too soon.”

Synthesis, the 17-1 outsider in the field, finished fourth, well clear of Savagery in the field of five.

Sparky Ville won the restricted Sunny Slope Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs here last October. He was later third in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes on dirt at Del Mar in November and sixth on turf in the Eddie Logan Stakes here on Dec. 28.

Owned by David and John Del Secco and trained by Jeff Bonde, Sparky Ville has earned $257,770. Last summer, Sparky Ville was second, by 10 1/2 lengths to the undefeated Instagrand in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar in August and last of six behind Game Winner in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in September.

Game Winner later won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and was named the champion 2-year-old male of 2018.