Creative Cause Vs. The Rest

The seven furlong San Vicente Stakes is generally targeted by three year olds looking to advance their career in the sprinter/miler division. The last three winners of the San Vicente, The Factor, Sidney’s Candy and the filly Evita Argentina later became Grade 1 winners, The Factor and Evita Argentina as sprinters, and Sidney’s Candy as a turf miler.

This year’s edition of the San Vicente Stakes pits two Grade 1 winners against lesser competitors. The overwhelming favorite CREATIVE CAUSE (Giant's Causeway - Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer) is using the San Vicente as a starting point on his Triple Crown journey. The pretty gray colt may not be fully cranked for his first time out, and he will prefer longer distances.

Creative Cause’s strongest challenge is expected to come from DRILL (Lawyer Ron - Cat Dancer, by Storm Cat). The large chestnut colt won the Del Mar Futurity by a neck over Creative Cause last September. However, Creative Cause finished in front of Drill in two subsequent meetings. Drill hasn’t hit the board in his last four races. Read his full pedigree profile here.

A lightly raced colt who could pull an upset is AMERICAN ACT (Quiet American - Revolutionary Act, by Boston Harbor). The bay colt is stretching out from a recent maiden win at 5 ½ furlongs, but has the pedigree to run two turns. American Act’s dam is a stakes winning sprinter, but otherwise, this female family is light on blacktype.

LET'S GET CRACKIN (Eddington - I'maknightschoice, by Knights Choice) makes his second start for trainer Craig Dollase and removes the blinkers. The dark bay colt ran his best race, speed figure wise, in the San Pedro over the Santa Anita dirt. Let's Get Crackin has a sprint orientated pedigree. His dam is out-performing her pedigree and is becoming a useful producer. Besides Let's Get Crackin, she bore his stakes winning half-sister R Nanee and his stakes placed half-brother Hopewell Heart. Seven of eight of Let's Get Crackin’s half siblings are winners and all have raced.

Two entrants, Smoking G and Captain Obvious, will be making their debut over dirt.

SMOKING G (Smoke Glacken - Whitewashed, by Broad Brush) won his maiden last time out over the lawn, but he has a dirt oriented pedigree. The pretty gray colt has a sprinter/miler pedigree. Smoking G’s half-sister is a Group 3 winner in Puerto Rico and their dam is a stakes placed turf sprinter. Smoking G zipped a bullet five furlongs in his breeze for the San Vicente.

CAPTAIN OBVIOUS (Choisir (AUS) - Taqqara (IRE), by Spectrum (IRE)) is cutting back in distance and trying dirt. He was a distant fourth behind Liaison over the Hollywood Cushion Track in the CashCall futurity. Captain Obvious has the pedigree of a turf router. None of his sire’s progeny have come in the money in dirt stakes races. Captain Obvious’ damsire is represented by three stakes placed dirt runners, including the graded stakes placed maiden Brother Francis. Captain Obvious adds blinkers and the Cecil barn gets 5% winners with that move.

 

SELECTIONS:

AMERICAN ACT and SMOKIN G have the speed to blaze out of the gate and keep going. Since both are recent maiden winners, it’s anybody’s guess if they have the class to hold off CREATIVE CAUSE. That one has been working well and should outclass his opponents even if he isn’t at his best. LET’S GET CRACKIN could be in the money should one of the top three falter. DRILL hasn’t progressed since his two year old season. He’s been racing non-stop since last July and appears to be a tired horse. CAPTAIN OBVIOUS could surprise over the dirt, but it’s doubtful.

CREATIVE CAUSE

SMOKIN G

AMERICAN ACT