San Vicente will lead ‘hype horse’ Nadal to Kentucky Derby trail

Photo: Benoit

Trainer Bob Baffert says it’s just racing’s nature this time of year that “every week we have a new hype horse.”

Nadal, an impressive debut winner on Jan. 19, may fit the bill twice in three weeks when he runs back Sunday in Santa Anita Park’s Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes.

“I would have liked to try him in an allowance race, but those things aren’t going to fill for now,” Baffert said. "...He's an exciting horse, and he's fast. He's a big, beautiful horse. I really think he needed that first out. I've always thought that second out is so important. They've got to step it up the next time."

Known to make deadline decisions spotting his horses, Baffert initially considered sending Nadal straight on the 2020 Kentucky Derby trail, flying to Oaklawn Park for the Feb. 17 Southwest Stakes (G3) going 1 1/16 miles. Instead, that could now be the destination for stablemate Authentic — he’s 2-for-2 and a winner of the Sham Stakes (G3) — while Nadal gets on course to try the March 14 Rebel Stakes (G2) going nine furlongs at Oaklawn.

“So I entered him there, and it’s a tough race,” the trainer said. “I’d rather just run him another time before stretching him out. You’ve got the champion in there, and you never know how they’re going to handle winners. But he seems to be doing well.”

Among Nadal’s five rivals is recently named Eclipse Award-winner Storm the Court, who’s ending a layoff dating back to his front-running upset in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Still, Santa Anita’s odds maker, Jon White, installed Nadal as the 4-5 favorite with the field set to break at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET.

A son of Blame named after the tennis great, Nadal aced his debut at 6 1/2 furlongs, rushing up along the rail having broken a step slow. He went on to cut opening fractions of 21.88 and 44.91 seconds before finishing up in 1:15.82 under apprentice rider J.C. Diaz Jr.

“That was a really strong maiden race,” Baffert said, with confirmation arriving this week from Churchill Downs.

Nadal was listed at 12-1 in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager off that single start. And Exaulted, the Peter Eurton-trained maiden who ran second by 3 3/4 lengths, also made the exclusive list of 23 horses available for betting this weekend.

Jockey Joel Rosario was a bit later than expected last month returning from an overseas trip, opening the opportunity for Diaz. This time, Rosario will maintain the assignment on Nadal, a $700,000 auction buy for the partnership of George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman and Mark Mathiesen.

“I think we’re just race-by-race with him,” Baffert said. “We’ll see what he wants to do. Is he all speed? I’m sure the pace will be pretty strong. Will he be able to take heat and keep going like the good horses do?

“…I’m trying to build a little foundation on him with a second race like that.”