Buetan, who placed as a finisher in a Grade 1 event, is set to compete in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita for 3-year-old fillies, while Explorer, the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, emerges as the strong favorite in the rescheduled Santa Ynez Stakes, also for 3-year-old fillies.
The San Vicente Stakes, covering seven furlongs with a $200,000 purse, marks the beginning of the path to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4. Buetan returns to racing after four months, having finished second in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga on September 1, behind Ted Nophy, who later claimed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and is expected to be the 2025 top 2-year-old. Buetan, by Tiz the Law, is trained by Bob Baffert and owned by Zedan Racing. Purchased as a 2-year-old for $1.15 million at last year’s OBS April Sale, Buetan won his debut six-furlong race at Del Mar last summer, with Juan Hernandez set to ride again.
So Happy, trained by Mark Glatt, will face winners for the first time after his debut victory over six and a half furlongs at Del Mar on November 22, clocking a competitive 83 Beyer Speed figure. The colt, owned by Norman Stables LLC and Saints or Sinners, was acquired for $150,000 at auction, and Hall of Famer Mike Smith will pilot him once more.
Trainer Doug O’Neill has entered Acknowledge Maples from Florida and Thirsty Rebel from California. Acknowledge Maples will return to sprint races after finishing fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December. Before that, he won his first race over six and a half furlongs at Santa Anita in October, posting a 93 Beyer Speed figure—the highest in the field. Owned by Purple Rain Racing and Mark D. Davis, and purchased for $75,000 at auction, Acknowledge Maples will be ridden for the first time by Kazushi Kimura. Thirsty Rebel, a son of Stay Thirsty, won by six lengths over Statebred competition at Los Alamitos on December 26. This race will be his first against open company on dirt. Thirsty Rebel placed second in the five-and-a-half furlong I’m Smokin’ Stakes at Del Mar and fourth in the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita. Owned by Mark D. Breen, he will be ridden by regular jockey Abel Rezcano.
The San Vicente is scheduled as race five around 2:00 p.m. Pacific time, with the post positions as follows:
1. Greenwich Village, Hector Berrios
2. So Happy, Mike Smith
3. Buetan, Juan Hernandez
4. Acknowledge Maples, Kazushi Kimura
5. Thirsty Rebel, Abel Rezcano
The Santa Ynez Stakes, also seven furlongs with a $100,000 purse, begins on April 4 as part of the route to the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks. Initially set for this Saturday, it was postponed due to rain and will also award qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
Explorer, who was the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, narrowly lost by three-quarters of a length to Super Corredora at Del Mar on October 31. This came 27 days after Explorer’s two-turn debut in the Grade 2 Oakleaf Stakes at Santa Anita. Sold for $350,000 earlier this year, Explorer is owned by Michael Pegram, Carl Watson, and Paul Wightman, with Juan Hernandez expected to ride again.
Explorer previously finished second to stablemate Bottle of Rouge in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante before winning the Oakleaf. Bottle of Rouge, a Vino Rosso offspring, will also contest the Santa Ynez after the race was postponed. Owned by Natalie Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith, Bottle of Rouge competed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, placing sixth.
Mark Glatt’s La Wally, who was second to Explorer in the Oakleaf, will also run. La Wally, sold as a yearling for $300,000 by Muirhut Stables, finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Humberto Rispoli rides her for the first time.
Levela won the seven-furlong Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar on November 16 under trainer John Sadler, narrowly defeating Himika. Baffert’s Jimika will also race at Santa Ynez. Revera, purchased for $85,000 and campaigned by U Racing Stables, Saints or Sinners, and Dennis Barker, will be ridden by Hector Berrios.
The Santa Ynez, the third race of the day starting at about 1 p.m., will feature:
1. Himika, Kazushi Kimura
2. La Wally, Humberto Rispoli
3. Bottle of Rouge, Mike Smith
4. Indeed, Hector Berrios
5. Explorer, Juan Hernandez
Fan Take: This lineup of promising young fillies marks an exciting start to the spring racing season, with top contenders like Buetan and Explorer setting the stage for future Grade 1 showdowns. For horse racing enthusiasts, these races offer a glimpse of potential champions and the unfolding drama that keeps the sport thrilling and competitive.
