Vertical Threat wins stakes debut in Smiling Tiger

DEL MAR, Calif. - Vertical Threat won his stakes debut, and second consecutive start, with a comfortable victory in Saturday’s $66,395 Smiling Tiger Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs at Del Mar.

Ridden confidently by Heriberto Figueroa, Vertical Threat ($4.40) stalked pacesetter and 3-5 favorite Ragtime Blues to the turn, took the lead entering the stretch and rapidly pulled away to win by 5 1/4 lengths.

Vertical Threat was timed in 1:10.47 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

Ragtime Blues finished second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of 7-1 Thanks Mr. Eidson. Howbeit (16-1) was last in the small field, following the morning scratch of Annie’s Boy.

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The Smiling Tiger was restricted to 3-year-olds who had not won a stakes worth $60,000 or more to the winner, other than in state-bred races, this year.

Ragtime Blues, a $500,000 yearling purchase, was second in the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on June 20 in his stakes debut.

Vertical Threat, a Tapiture colt, races for Slam Dunk Racing and Myracehorse.com and trainer Richard Baltas, and has won two of three starts.

Purchased for $100,000 at a 2-year-olds in-training sale, Vertical Threat was sixth after a slow start in a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in his debut May 23 at Santa Anita and won a maiden race at six furlongs on dirt at Los Alamitos by six lengths on June 27.