Fog City Stable's Roman Ruler makes his 3 year old debut in Saturday's Grade 2 $150,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita to be contested at seven furlongs. Roman Ruler has not raced since finishing a disappointing fifth in the (G1) Breeder's Cup Juvenile at Lone Star on October 30, 2004. He may have had an excuse that day, after being shuffled back at the start and having to be steadied early going in to the clubhouse turn under previous rider Corey Nakatani. Roman Ruler has gone favored in all five of his career starts, while notching three wins. In his only try at the 7/8 distance, he was second beaten a neck after a long stretch duel to eventual winner, Eclipse Award winning 2-year-old and early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, Jay Em Ess Stables', Declan's Moon.

Roman Ruler looked very good drilling six furlongs from the gate in company with stable mate Sea of Silver on Sunday, February 6th.

"He looked like the Roman Ruler of old," said trainer, Bob Baffert. His last few races he hadn't been breaking all that well but today he broke like a shot," Baffert said. "I wanted to work him from the gate to sharpen him up. He went extremely well and I am happy with what I saw and it puts him right on target for the San Vicente."

Roman Ruler was time the six furlongs in 1:11.40. In Roman Ruler's only career try over the Santa Anita surface, he was an easy 4 ½ length winner in the (G2) Norfolk racing 1 1/16 miles in early October 2004. Roman Ruler will be ridden Saturday, for the first time, by Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey.

The full field for the (G2) San Vicente from the rail out with riders and weights, include, Fusaichi Rock Star (David Flores) 115; Kirkendahl (Kent Desormeaux) 115; Don't Get Mad (Tyler Baze) 115; Roman Ruler (Jerry Bailey) 122 and Consolidator (Victor Espinoza) 119.

The main threat to Roman Ruler appears to be Bob & Beverly Lewis' Consolidator, who has not run since October, when fourth beaten 2 ¼ lengths in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile -- besting Roman Ruler by a mere 1 ½ lengths. Consolidator's only other try at the San Vicente distance was a dull fourth beaten 13 lengths in the (G1) Hopeful at Saratoga last August. Consolidator impressed Santa Anita's veteran head clocker Gary Nelson with his stellar, 58.60 workout last Sunday. Nelson simply described the effort as, "fantastic." The D. Wayne Lukas trainee has looked very impressive in the mornings and appears all set for a big effort on Sunday.

B. Wayne Hughes' Ron Ellis trained entry Don't Get Mad is worthy of mention. Don't Get Mad is undefeated in 2 starts and has trained well over the much slower Hollywood Park surface. In his last start on November 26th, he beat a decent non-winners of two field at Churchill Down at the San Vicente distance, coming from far off the pace. Any slight miscue from Roman Ruler or Consolidator, who are both returning from similar layoffs, could open the door for someone off the pace. That someone could come in the form of Don't Get Mad.

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