Concert Tour Outplays Freedom Fighter in San Vicente
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Concert Tour turns back Freedom Fighter to win the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Gary and Mary West's homebred Concert Tour battled down the Santa Anita Park stretch trying to get the edge on his Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Freedom Fighter in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2) Feb. 6, and found an extra burst late under Joel Rosario to get up by a half-length.
The seven-furlong event marked the second win in two starts for Concert Tour, who won his debut Jan. 15 at Santa Anita. The 3-year-old Street Sense colt has worn blinkers both times.
"Freedom Fighter just broke like a rocket ship, he's really fast and been doing really well. Rosario was trying to teach this horse how to rate a little bit and I thought they were going to get into a speed duel," Baffert said. "I think it was a good race for both of them. I learned a lot about (Concert Tour), how he wants to run, and maybe he doesn't need blinkers. He's pretty sharp. That's why we have these races. Now they go to where I can stretch them out. This horse has two races under his belt, but those were two really good horses.
"I think the timing is perfect for (them). I think from here you can take that big jump that you want to take. He's going to have to really step it up now, but now he's ready for it."
Baffert and Rosario also paired to win the 2020 San Vicente with Nadal, and Rosario guided Sparky Ville to victory in 2019. Overall Baffert has won the San Vicente 11 times, Rosario four times.
In Saturday's edition, Freedom Fighter showed the way under Drayden Van Dyke, setting fractions of :23.41 and :45.98 through a half-mile. The Chosen Vron stalked in second, with Concert Tour back in third. Rosario guided Concert Tour three wide around the turn and moved up to second in the stretch. Freedom Fighter proved to be a stubborn foe, and Concert Tour drifted out during his drive toward the wire.
Under right-handed urging, Concert Tour continued to battle and got up late over Freedom Fighter. Time on the fast track was 1:24.06.
"It was a good trip," Rosario said. "After the other horse went to the lead I thought the 2 horse (The Chosen Vron) was going to go faster, but he took his time and I thought I was in a good spot.
"He was a little green and he cut away a little bit at the last part when I took the lead. I thought that was a good race."
Concert Tour paid $2.80 for a $2 win wager as the 2-5 favorite. Freedom Fighter finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of The Chosen Vron in third. Found My Ball and Uncle Boogie completed the order of finish.
Mr. Impossible, second to Concert Tour in his only start, was scratched and re-entered for a maiden special weight Feb. 7, where he will face highly touted Baffert trainees Bezos and Tivoli Twirl in their debuts.
While Concert Tour is a homebred for his owners, Freedom Fighter was a $120,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, who campaign the Violence colt with Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson. The San Vicente was Freedom Fighter's first race since winning first time out Aug. 1 at Del Mar.
"He ran huge for being off as long as he has been," Van Dyke said. "They said he has been training lights out, so he ran like he has been training. Second best today, but a very nice horse."
Though the San Vicente is not an official prep race for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), it has served as a steppingstone for 3-year-olds looking to jump onto the Triple Crown trail. The 2016 winner, Nyquist , went on to win the Run for the Roses, adding the Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1) along the way.
A Kentucky-bred, Concert Tour is the second foal and first winner out of the Tapit mare Purse Strings, who also has a yearling Lookin At Lucky colt and was reported bred to American Freedom for 2021. His female family includes multiple grade 1 winner and 2008 champion 2-year-old filly Stardom Bound.
Concert Tour has collected $156,600 in his two starts.
"He'll be nominated everywhere, we will see how he comes out of it," Baffert said of future race plans. "He's pretty keyed up well. He showed his heart and determination. I knew the other horse was going to give him a run for his money and he did. He's going to improve off of that also."
Locally at Santa Anita, the next prep race to award qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is the March 6 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, with a points scale of 50-20-10-5. The April 3 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) is run at 1 1/8 miles and offers points on a 100-40-20-10 scale. Baffert has also had success at Oaklawn Park in the Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles (50-20-10-5), scheduled for March 13, and the Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles (100-40-20-10), which will take place April 10.