GRADE 2 SAN VICENTE

LORD Nelson spoiled the three-year-old debut for Texas Red in the seven-furlong $200,000 Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park last Sunday, nipping the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner by a neck in a terrific finish.

Both colts ran well from off the pace, with Lord Nelson and Rafael Bejarano on the far outside tagging Texas Red and Kent Desormeaux at the finish line.

The victory was the ninth in the San Vicente for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, and his fourth in the past five years.

Texas Red, splitting horses in the stretch and getting through on the rail to gain a narrow advantage over Sir Samson in the final furlong, also put in a fine effort in his seasonal debut for trainer Keith Desormeaux.

“(Bejarano) had him going nice and easy and he went wide and looked like he was sort of hanging,” Baffert said. “I saw the Desormeaux horse (Texas Red) coming up the rail and I thought, ‘Well, he’s (Lord Nelson) gone.’ But he sort of kicked back in.”

Lord Nelson was the 19/10 second choice in the field of six three-year-olds. Baffert trains the winning son of Pulpit for Peachtree Stable. Irish family-owned Clearsky Farms, bred Lord Nelson in Kentucky out of the Seeking the Gold mare African Jade.

Like the 7/10 favorite Texas Red, Lord Nelson was making his three-year-old debut in the San Vicente. The chesnut colt is now undefeated in three sprint starts, including a six and three-quarter length romp in Santa Anita’s Speakeasy Stakes at six furlongs last October. Texas Red lost nothing in defeat in his first start since his explosive six and a half length triumph in the Juvenile at Santa Anita on November 1st. He remains one of the top prospects in the nation for this year’s Triple Crown series.

Keith Desormeaux said Texas Red got what he needed out of the sprint, but added, “It’s a little disappointing, you know, ’cause it’s so close to winning, but the long-term goal is well within reach.”

Desormeaux said Texas Red is probably going to the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course on February 21st at one-mile and a half furlong before returning to California for the nine-furlong Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4th.