Still, Buetane seems the logical choice in the 7-furlong stakes. Trained by Bob Baffert, he faces a first-time winner from his own barn, a stakes runner and a first-time winner trained by Doug O’Neill, and a first-time winner trained by Mark Glatt.
Buetane, a $1.15 million Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training, started his career with a sharp 3 1/2-length victory over Sea last August under jockey Juan Hernandez. The Kentucky bred son of Tiz the law then sent to Saratoga Race Course for the Hopeful and earned Grade 1 status with his second-place finish to Ted Noffey, albeit by 8 1/2 lengths. Flavien Prat rode Buetane that day, but Hernandez returns for the San Vicente.
Hernandez also rode Baffert’s other San Vicente entry, Greenwich village in his debut, a half-length win in first company on 6 December Los Alamitos Race Track. Hector Berrios takes over the Kentucky-bred son of Quality road for the San Vicente.
Although the San Vicente does not offer qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (G1), Nyquist an O’Neill trainee and now a top sire, won the 2016 San Vicente and Kentucky Derby. Silver charm trained by Baffert and inducted into the Hall of Fame, also won the two races in 1997.
Baffert has written the last three editions of the San Vicente Barnes , Muth And Havnametdown– while Hernandez has won the last four – to Baffert’s three and beyond Forbidden kingdom for trainer Richard Mandella. Baffert has a total of 14 San Vicente victories.
Thirsty rebel a California bred son of Stay thirsty came close to becoming a stakes winner in the I’m Smokin Stakes for California bred or sired runners. Thirsty Rebel, one of two O’Neill runners, has the most experience of the field, with two wins and second place in five starts. In his final attempt he scored 6 lengths in state-bred allowance, optional claiming company at 6 furlongs.
O’Neill, who is going for his third San Vicente, also brings along Recognizemeplz . That Florida bred son of Bucchero has stared three times, with a second, a victory and a fourth. The fourth came in the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), won by Baffert-trained Litmus test .
Glatt’s bishop is So happy a Kentucky bred son of Run happy who will have the services of Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. Smith also piloted So Happy in his only previous start, a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race at Del Mar on Nov. 22. So Happy took that by three-quarters of a length.
Submissions: San Vicente S. (G2)
Santa Anita Park, Saturday January 10, 2026, race 5
- Grade II
- 7f
- Filthy
- $200,000
- 3 years
- 2:00 PM (local)
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