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Mischief can't stop Georgie Boy in San Vicente

Georgie Boy rolled home in the San Vicente (Benoit Photo) George Schwary's homebred GEORGIE BOY (Tribal Rule) roared home late to capture Sunday's $147,000 San Vicente S. (G2) by 3 1/4 lengths over even-money favorite Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday). Making his sophomore debut for trainer Kathy Walsh, the California-bred gelding reeled off seven furlongs in 1:20 on the renovated Cushion Track at Santa Anita. Georgie Boy's time was just off the track record of 1:19 4/5 established by champion Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie) in the January 13 Santa Ynez S. (G2). With new rider Rafael Bejarano aboard, Georgie Boy was reserved off the early pace at the tail of the four-horse field. Up front, Massive Drama (Kafwain) set fractions of :23 1/5 and :45 1/5, pressured all the while by Into Mischief on his outside. As the battle between the top two intensified on the far turn, Georgie Boy smoothly advanced into third and was drafting in the ideal spot. Into Mischief seized the lead from Massive Drama in the stretch, but Georgie Boy was just kicking into gear down the center of the track. Inside the final sixteenth, Georgie Boy stormed past a tiring Into Mischief and quickly opened up on the field. Dispatched as the nearly 3-1 third choice, the winner returned $7.80 and $3.20 while keying the $1 exacta (1-4) that totaled $7.90. There was no show wagering.

"We had two horses to beat and they both had speed, so I was able to sit in behind them," Bejarano said. "I wanted to be close, and when I turned him loose, he just took off. He's a super horse."

"He was a little upset today," Walsh said. "It was his first race in five months. I thought he rated real well. He was a little rank the first quarter-mile, then he settled off."

Into Mischief, who switched leads a couple of times as he got weary in deep stretch, kept on for runner-up honors to pay $2.60.

"It was a good start back," horseman Richard Mandella said of Into Mischief. "Kathy Walsh's horse ran fabulous, but mine ran real good. I thought he might be eligible to get a little tired. I was lucky to get him to the races with what we had (foot issues and training interruptions), but we got through that and at least we're still in the game. We'll probably look at the San Felipe (G2) in a month (on March 15)."

Another length back came Massive Drama, who was 14 1/4 lengths clear of longshot Red Hot Flame (Malek [Chi]). Cardinal Zin (Whywhywhy) was withdrawn.

Georgie Boy boosted his bankroll to $376,806 from his 6-3-2-1 line. Last summer, the dark bay broke his maiden in the Graduation S. at Del Mar in his third career start. After finishing a solid second to Salute the Sarge (Forest Wildcat) in the Best Pal S. (G2), Georgie Boy came charging from near the back of the pack to take the Del Mar Futurity (G1) in his juvenile finale. Walsh explained her reasons for giving him an extended break after Del Mar.

"I ran him three times at Del Mar, and for a horse that gives you so much, you want to give him a chance," the trainer said. "He gave his heart every time he ran, and I thought he just needed a rest. If anything, the time off gave him some time to let him grow and mature."

Walsh confirmed that Georgie Boy will set out on the Kentucky Derby trail, but his next target has yet to be fixed.

"He's nominated to the race in Hot Springs (the 1 1/16-mile Rebel S. [G2] at Oaklawn Park on March 15)," she said. "We'll kind of play it by ear."

The first foal from the stakes-winning Ippodamia (Peterhof), Georgie Boy has an unnamed yearling half-sister by Old Topper.

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