Coliseum, Dessman meet in San Vicente Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The reputations of Coliseum and Dessman led both to be favored in their first start, and they ran as expected, each easily winning a maiden special weight race.

Coliseum followed his win in November with a sixth in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes after a slow start. Dessman won his only start by 7 1/2 lengths on Jan. 19.

Dessman goes in Sunday’s Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Santa Anita in a projected small field, and his main rival is Coliseum. Both are trained by Bob Baffert for members of the Maktoum family of Dubai. Both colts have pedigrees to suggest that the $200,000 San Vicente is a precursor for more lucrative stakes around two turns.

Other expected runners are the minor stakes winner Sparky Ville and Savagery and Synthesis, who both have placed in stakes.

KEY CONTENDERS

Coliseum, by Tapit Beyers: 75-91

◗ Owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, Coliseum won his debut by 6 3/4 lengths going seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 17. In the Sham Stakes at a mile on Jan. 5, Coliseum raced as close as fifth before finishing 4 1/4 lengths behind winner Gunmetal Gray.

◗ Baffert has emphasized gate workouts for Coliseum to avoid a recurrence of his start in the Sham.

◗ Mike Smith will ride Coliseum for the first time in the San Vicente, replacing Joe Talamo.

Dessman, by Union Rags Beyer: 80

◗ Owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Dessman closed from third in a field of six going six furlongs to take control in early stretch under jockey Flavien Prat.

◗ This will be a class test for Dessman, who has the least experience of the San Vicente candidates.

“The second race is an important out,” Baffert said. “We’ll know more after this.”

Sparky Ville, by Candy Ride Last 3 Beyers: 62-83-83

◗ Sparky Ville won the restricted Sunny Slope Stakes at seven furlongs here last October, finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of Savagery, and was later third behind Mucho Gusto and Savagery in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar in November.

◗ Sparky Ville started on turf for the first time in the Eddie Logan Stakes at a mile on Dec. 28, finishing a well-beaten sixth. A return to one-turn sprints is a better fit, trainer Jeff Bonde said.

“That’s what he’s best at,” Bonde said. “He’s got a chance.”

Savagery, by Bellamy Road Last 3 Beyers: 76-52-78

◗ Savagery had a busy first half of January, finishing last of seven in the Sham Stakes and winning an optional claimer on a wet-fast track seven days later.

◗ Trained by Peter Miller, Savagery is expected to be part of the pace.