Vision catches the eye in debut win

CYPRESS, Calif. – Vision, a $500,000 auction purchase earlier this year, won his debut in a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on Thursday, a distance well short of what should be the colt’s specialty.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Vision closed from fourth in the long stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths as the 8-5 favorite. Vision quickened noticeably after Smith moved the colt toward the inside in the final furlong.

“He’s really big, but he’s quick,” Smith said. “When I let him drop down, he gave me another gear.”

Vision ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.79. Trained by Bob Baffert for a partnership that includes China Horse Club International, SF Racing and WinStar Farm, Vision was bought for $500,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale of 2-year-olds in training in March.

Vision is by Orb, the winner of the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

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