Vertical Threat can make leap into stakes company

A restricted race for 3-year-old sprinters against only four rivals may be the perfect scenario for Vertical Threat’s stakes debut in Saturday’s $65,000 Smiling Tiger Stakes at Del Mar.

Vertical Threat won a maiden special weight at six furlongs at Los Alamitos on June 27 by six lengths, closing from third in a field of seven in his second start. Vertical Threat was sixth of 12 after a slow start in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on May 23.

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Owned by the partnership of Slam Dunk Racing and Myracehorse.com, Vertical Threat has the least experience of the five runners in the Smiling Tiger, run at six furlongs.

“Obviously he lacks seasoning,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “I think he’s going to be competitive. It’s not that tough of a spot. He’ll be sitting behind the speed, I think.”

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Vertical Threat drew post 4 and is one gate to the outside of Ragtime Blues, a $500,000 yearling purchase in 2018 who was second to the highly regarded Collusion Illusion in the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Stakes for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on June 20.

Ragtime Blues set the pace, led by two lengths with a furlong remaining, but was no match for Collusion Illusion, who drew clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Ragtime Blues held second, finishing comfortably in front of Howbeit, who starts in the Smiling Tiger.

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Trained by Bob Baffert, Ragtime Blues will be ridden by Mike Smith, who was aboard in the Barrera. Ragtime Blues may set the pace, but could face pressure from Annie’s Boy, a sprint stakes winner at Turf Paradise and Arapahoe Park in the last year.

Annie’s Boy was fifth of six in a 1,000-yard race for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds at Los Alamitos last Saturday in his California debut.

The Smiling Tiger is restricted to 3-year-olds who have not won a first-place purse of $60,000 in a race other than statebred stakes this year.