Iliad Serves Notice in the San Vicente

One year ago, the $200,000 Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes was highly anticipated. It featured the seasonal debut of the unbeaten two-year-old champ in Nyquist, facing off against multiple graded stakes winner Exaggerator. Nyquist held off Exaggerator to win, and then they went their separate ways before they met again three months later. Of course, we all know what happened as those two dominated the headlines with their exploits, Nyquist holding off Exaggerator in the Kentucky Derby, and Exaggerator defeating Nyquist in the Preakness Stakes. 

This year’s edition didn’t have the star power of last year’s edition as five maiden winners were entered, each looking to give their connections indications that maybe, just maybe they can follow in one their predecessor’s footsteps. At the finish, it was one horse, Iliad, a bay ridgling out of Ghostzapper, who stole the show as he pulled away in the stretch to win the San Vicente by three and a half lengths at Santa Anita. That’s two in a row for Iliad’s sire Ghostzapper, who also sired McCraken, yesterday’s winner of the Gr3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs.

Iliad, who broke from post five under jockey Flavien Prat, was away smartly and allowed to sit just to the outside of the early pacesetter, Blabimir, three quarters of a length back through a first quarter in 21.89. Law Abidin Citizen was also placed forwardly moving through gradually on the inside to put pressure on the Blabimir through that first quarter, eventually taking the lead after a half in 44.08. The race favorite, Battle of Midway, was in fifth and already being asked to keep up by jockey Mike Smith.

Turning for home it was clear that Iliad and jockey Flavien Prat were going to be the ones to beat as they had the measure of Law Abidin Citizen, taking over on the outside and gradually extending the lead to finish three and a half lengths clear at the wire. Law Abidin Citizen was four and a half lengths clear in second, and in a battle for third, it was Battle of Midway edging Aquamarine by three quarters of a length. Blabimir was eased past the wire.

For winning trainer Doug O'Neill, this was his second straight San Vicente win, as he won it with the aforementioned Nyquist last year. He took over the training of Iliad when owner Kaleem Shah and Bob Baffert parted ways on New Year's Eve. “He’s a really nice horse, he has a lot of class. He ran huge today. We’ve just tried to not screw him up. Flavien rode a great race today and got it done,” said O’Neill. “Going seven eighths can be a grind if you break real sharp and try to run all the way (on the lead). Flavien knew what to do and did a great job.”

Owner Kaleem Shah talked about what's next for Iliad, and the origin of his name “We can all hope and pray for horses like this. I’m glad Iliad came along. I hope he continues to move forward. It’s one race at a time in this business, but it looks very promising for now," Shah said. “I was looking for a great name just like Bayern, which represented a great soccer team. This one, Iliad, represents a great western classic in literature. I think we stay here and try to run in the San Felipe (Gr2, 1 1/16 miles, March 11) and then hopefully, the Santa Anita Derby (Gr1, 1 1/8 miles April 8).”

This was Iliad’s second win from three starts, his record now stands at 3-2-0-0 and his earnings are now $147,345. Iliad was sold for $285,000 at the 2016 March Ocala Breeders’ Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.

Run nearly a full second slower than last year’s edition, the final time was 1:21.62. Off as the second choice at 2-1, Iliad paid $6.00, $4.00, and $2.20 to win. Law Abidin Citizen paid $6.00 and $2.40 to place, and Battle of Midway returned $2.10 for the show wager.