Study Guide: 2026 San Vicente Stakes

Jan 07, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Buetane winning a maiden race at Del Mar (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Although it’s not an official Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier, Saturday’s $200,000 San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita is nevertheless an important stop on the path to the 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1).

San Vicente starters often go on to compete with aplomb on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Even better, Nyquist used a triumph in the San Vicente as a springboard to victory in the 2016 Run for the Roses.

Five horses have entered the 2026 San Vicente. Let’s meet the field:

Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village (outside) and Forced Entry work at Santa Anita. (Photo by Horsephotos)

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Hector I. Berrios

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning a Los Alamitos maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $27,000

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Houtzen
Color: Bay

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won the San Vicente 14 times, including five of the last six editions. He’ll saddle two starters in this year’s edition, including Greenwich Village, who led all the way to win a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Los Alamitos by half a length. Greenwich Village has lots of potential, but take note, Baffert’s go-to jockey, Juan Hernandez (who has won the last four editions of the San Vicente) is getting off of Greenwich Village to ride stablemate Buetane instead.

So Happy

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners
Breeder: Leverett S. Miller
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Jockey: Mike Smith

Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning a Del Mar maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $36,000

Sire: Runhappy
Dam: So Cunning
Color: Bay

So Happy debuted with a nice performance in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar. After rating just behind the leaders in fourth place, he rallied in the homestretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length. If he improves at all while making his second start in the San Vicente, So Happy can challenge for a top-three finish.

Buetane

Buetane wins maiden race at Del Mar. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Breeder: Merriebelle Stable
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning a Del Mar maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $108,000

Sire: Tiz the Law
Dam: Taboo
Color: Chestnut

The horse to beat in the San Vicente is Buetane, who has the red-hot jockey/trainer duo of Hernandez and Baffert in his corner. Buetane easily won a six-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar last summer before shipping across the country to Saratoga, where he ran second in the Hopeful (G1) behind probable champion two-year-old male and early Kentucky Derby favorite Ted Noffey. Buetane hasn’t raced since September, but he’s turned in a long series of fast workouts in preparation for his return, suggesting he’ll be formidable in the San Vicente.

𝙏𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝟭𝟮𝟭𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙩 𝙁𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 (𝙂𝙄).

The 2yo son of @spendthriftfarm Stallion Into Mischief was brilliantly ridden by jockey @ljlmvel and conditioned by Todd Pletcher. pic.twitter.com/D8jV6mo9YP

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 1, 2025

Acknowledgemeplz

Acknowledgemeplz. (Photos by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Purple Rein Racing and Mark D. Davis
Breeder: Helen Barbazon and Joseph Barbazon
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $60,000

Sire: Bucchero
Dam: Starship Fantasy
Color: Chestnut

Acknowledgemeplz tired when racing 1 1/16 miles in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) last month, finishing a distant fourth. Cutting back to seven furlongs should prove more suitable. In October, Acknowledgemeplz led all the way to win a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita over future Los Alamitos Futurity runner-up Blacksmith. Sprinting appears to be Acknowledgemeplz’s strong suit, so don’t count him out of the mix on Saturday.

Thirsty Rebel

Max Ciao barely edges out Thirsty Rebel in the Smokin Stakes at Del Mar. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Mark D. Breen
Breeder: Terry C. Lovingier
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Abel Lezcano

Top Speed Rating: (100) when winning a $20,000 allowance optional claimer at Los Alamitos.
Total Earnings: $105,600

Sire: Stay Thirsty
Dam: Argyle Pink
Color: Bay

Bred in California, Thirsty Rebel has competed primarily against fellow California-breds, most notably trouncing a six-furlong $20,000 allowance optional claimer at Los Alamitos by six lengths. That runaway win earned a flashy 100 Brisnet Speed rating, the highest number in the San Vicente field. But replicating that rating against tougher competition could be tricky.