How to bet the 2024 San Vicente Stakes

A very talented field of six sophomore colts will travel seven-eighths on the Santa Anita main oval in Saturday’s $200,000 San Vicente S. (G2). American Pharoah S. (G1) star #3 Muth will make his first appearance since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on the oval for conditioner Bob Baffert, but the colt will face a pair of promising first-out winners in the contest, and I don’t feel that he is a cinch in the contest at low odds.

San Vicente Wagers

• $20 win #4 Pilot Commander ($20)
  $10 trifecta 3,4 with 3,4 with 1 ($20)
  $5 trifecta 1,3 with 1,3 with 4 ($10) 

#4 Pilot Commander did nearly everything right in a fine debut victory at Del Mar on Nov. 11 and has trained well in the interim, which includes a swift five-furlong bullet in his latest morning move. The Baffert charge, who brought a hefty $700,000 in the spring, came home fast after showing big early speed and is a prospect that looks like he could evolve into a very good one with more seasoning. The Justify chestnut draws outside of his two major dangers in the field and picks up Flavien Prat for his stakes debut.

I was also impressed with the first-out win posted by Tim Yakteen’s #1 Moonlit Sonata, who outran his substantial odds to win in going-away fashion at Del Mar at first asking. By Malibu Moon, the colt might be a bit overlooked in the compact cast, but he did overcome adversity in that initial offering and has also been pointing for this race since that victory. The bay colt got stronger as the race progressed in his score and will likely improve for a conditioner who is better with experienced runners, in general. Geovanni Franco retains the ride.

Muth was my top pick in the aforementioned Juvenile and was clearly one of the more talented runners in his division last season. The Good Magic colt has never been worse than second from four lifetime outings to date and earned Brisnet Speed figures of 100 and 105 in his last pair of assignments, with both coming on the surface. The Kentucky-bred bay is fast but doesn’t need the lead to win, his best efforts have come at Santa Anita, and he has also been training fast leading up to his 2024 bow, as well. The formidable colt will have regular pilot Juan Hernandez in the controls.