San Vicente J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A well-matched field of 10 will travel seven furlongs in the $150,000 San

Vicente S. (G2) at Santa Anita on Presidents' Day. Bob Baffert has a pair in

here including WALL STREET WONDER (City Place), an impressive maiden winner in

late January, and we'll tab the expensive two-year-old purchase. The dark bay

put in a solid effort in his debut at good odds and moved up considerably in his

second start, as many Baffert trainees tend to do, and we like his chances in

here coming off a blazing half-mile drill in :46 4/5. Joel Rosario will retain

the mount.

LEEDSTHEWAY (Cape Canaveral) toppled a nice group last out and rates a huge

chance in this field from the outside post. The dark bay zipped six panels in

1:08 3/5 in his debut, and looked even better last out while showing a rating

tactic over this oval. The gelding should get a perfect trip under Tyler Baze.

GALLANT SON (Malabar Gold) was only 3 1/2 lengths back in the Breeders' Cup

Juvenile (G1) two back but never fired in the California Derby most recently for

Frank Lucarelli. The dark bay colt won four in succession prior to the Juvenile,

including a trio of stakes events at Emerald Downs. We like the cut-back in trip

here, as this barn does well with this kind of move.

SMOKEY LONESOME (Teton Forest) closed into a relatively tepid pace to garner second in an

allowance race most recently and will make his first start for Art Sherman in

this test. The gelded chestnut has never run a bad one and should find a strong

tempo to run into late, so we could easily envision this Kentucky-bred

picking up a piece under Isaias Enriquez.

GATO GO WIN (City Place) has improved a great deal since adding blinkers

three back for Jeff Mullins, winning his last two like a good thing. The dark

bay drilled subsequent San Rafael S. (G3) victor The Pamplemousse (Kafwain) in his maiden

romp and impressed when showing an ability to rate on the lead in his latest allowance triumph.

Mike Baze will be in the irons.

VENTANA (Toccet), the second Baffert trainee, looked brilliant in his debut

romp. He has failed to impress in his subsequent outings, although he did have

plenty of trouble in the San Pedro S. last out. We're still not overly fond of the

bay, even with Rafael Bejarano.

CONGOR BAY (Speightstown) won the San Pedro last out to break a two-race

losing skein for Mark Casse, and the well-bred bay looks like a logical player

in here. The colt has never topped 87 with his BRIS Speed numbers, so some

improvement will be needed for him to take this group down. Patrick Husbands

will retain the mount.

Grade 3 queen EVITA ARGENTINA (Candy Ride [Arg]) will attempt the boys in

here for John Sadler, but the miss looks like she'll need a career best to top

these foes. The Kentucky-bred lass has posted BRIS Late Pace figures of 113 and

103 in her last pair and might be able to close for a minor award if the pace is

fast.

POINT ATTENDED (Tale of the Cat) screamed a bullet half-mile in :46 2/5 in

advance of this and is yet another who can make a case for the gimmicks for Eric

Guillot. CUT THE CHECK (Sky Mesa) has finished third in both the San Pedro and Gold

Rush S. in his last pair for Walther Solis, and the consistent bay is an exotics

threat in here at a decent price.