Ventana enticing off bad last trip

ARCADIA, Calif. - Congor Bay won the San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita last month despite waiting briefly in traffic. Ventana was fifth in the same race, the victim of a dreadful trip.

When they meet again on Monday as part of a field of 10 in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds, Ventana may be better supported by bettors.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Ventana was steadied at the three-eighths pole and stuck behind horses in the stretch of the San Pedro. He was beaten two lengths.

"He learned something," Baffert said.

Congor Bay waited behind rivals on the turn in the San Pedro and rallied through the stretch to win by a half-length over Point Attended, who is also in the San Vicente field.

The San Pedro was Congor Bay's third start in California after two wins in Canada last fall. Congor Bay was sixth in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes in November and a decent third in the Eddie Logan Stakes on turf here in December.

The San Pedro win helped to erase the disappointment of the Prevue Stakes, said Ricky Griffith, trainer Mark Casse's assistant in California.

"I like that he got the bad race at Hollywood Park behind him," Griffith said. "That's the only race you can fault him. Who knows? We shipped in a week before. It was one of his off days."

Congor Bay seems best as a stalker, the style he used in the San Pedro.

"He showed some maturity" in the San Vicente, Griffith said. "I like the way he did it. He was down on the fence."

Baffert also starts Wall Street Wonder, who is making his stakes debut. Wall Street Wonder won a six-furlong race for maidens on Jan. 24 by 5 1/4 lengths, drawing off late. He returned to work quickly, including a half-mile move in 46.80 seconds on Wednesday, the fastest of 60 works at the distance.

"He's got a really nice turn of foot," Baffert said.

Trainer Jeff Mullins has solid chances with Gato Go Win and Leedstheway. Both won their last two starts, against maidens and then over allowance races or optional claimers.

Gato Go Win has shown speed in recent starts, while Leedstheway is a danger from just off the pace.

The race also includes the two-time stakes-winning filly Evita Argentina; and Gallant Son, who won three stakes at Emerald Downs last year.