San Vicente

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A small field of three-year-old colts will line-up for the seven-furlong San
Vicente S. (G2) on Sunday. The headliner in this bunch, ROMAN RULER (Fusaichi
Pegasus), is unlikely for this one and his status will greatly affect the dynamic
of the race. If he goes, he’s surely the one to beat; if not we feel the other
Bob Baffert entry could upset this bunch.

FUSAICHI ROCK STAR (Wild Wonder) made quite an impression when firing
off a quarter in :21 1/5 at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Febraury two-year-old sale’s under
tack show, where he later sold for $825,000. The gray has yet to
live up to his hype thus far, but has been dazzling in the mornings and seems
poised for a top effort. The colt will break from the rail and should get a trip
just off of the likely pacesetter KIRKENDAHL (Menifee) before taking over and holding off his other opponents. David Flores will ride.

CONSOLIDATOR (Storm Cat) is unraced since a good fourth-place finish in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile S. (G1) for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The chestnut was
previously victorious in the Breeders Futurity S. (G1) at Keeneland, and has
placed in a pair of other graded tilts. We feel that he is a top Kentucky Derby
(G1) candidate down the road, but will look for him to come up short in here beneath
Victor Espinoza.

Kirkendahl will likely be on the lead for a good portion of the race and
could hang around for quite a while if he sets a moderate pace. The bay was
unplaced last out in the San Rafael, against an arguably tougher field, and
could endure much longer in this contest. Regular rider Kent Desormeaux will be
aboard once again for conditioner Ted West.

DON’T GET MAD (Stephen Got Even) is unbeaten from a pair of impressive
outings, closing like a freight train to win both starts at Churchill Downs. His
acceleration has been into slower fractions in both wins, and we’re not sure
what he’s beaten to this point, so we’ll watch this one before endorsing him.
Tyler Baze will pilot for trainer Ron Ellis.