Forbidden Kingdom Defeats Baffert Trio in San Vicente

Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Benoit Photo
Forbidden Kingdom speeds to a frontrunning triumph in the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park

The connections of Forbidden Kingdom  knew their colt was fast.

After sprinting to a front-running score in his debut at Del Mar as a 2-year-old, the son of American Pharoah   was struggling to relax in his next two races, burning through quick early fractions and failing to hold his speed to the wire.

In an effort to harness the fleetfooted colt, jockey Juan Hernandez, who has been aboard Forbidden Kingdom for every one of his races, hopped on the Richard Mandella trainee in his morning breezes prior to the Jan. 29 $200,000 San Vicente Stakes (G2).

Those morning lessons paid off handsomely for the pair on Saturday as Forbidden Kingdom rolled to a decisive 2 1/4-length victory in the seven-furlong race at Santa Anita Park

"Today he was a different horse," said Hernandez. "He relaxed a little more and that helped us a lot. Last time he went too quick. (Today) he just kept going and never stopped." 

Sign up for

Breaking from the inside post, Forbidden Kingdom rocketed out of the gates to seize command within the first sixty yards, leaving the Bob Baffert-trained trio of Pinehurst , McLaren Vale , and Doppelganger  in his wake past an opening quarter-mile in :21.86. Holding a two-length advantage down the backstretch, Forbidden Kingdom ticked off a half-mile in :44.49 and continued to lead into the stretch. Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner Pinehurst gave chase but couldn't catch Forbidden Kingdom, who responded willingly to Hernandez's right-handed urging. 

Pinehurst, making his first start since a fifth-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile sponsored by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), tired late but had enough left to hold second by a neck over McLaren Vale.

Doppelganger, the 9-10 favorite, ran fourth, well ahead of longshot What in Blazes, who ran last of five.

Forbidden Kingdom ($3.90), owned by Spendthrift Farm and MyRacehorse, ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.75. Although it can at times be a prep race for horses pointed toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), the San Vicente is not worth points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.  

Joe Moran, racing manager in California for MyRacehorse, indicated that Derby dreams are on the horizon for Forbidden Kingdom, leaving the April 9 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) as a potential goal at the current meet.

"This was the first checkmark on getting to go onto the next step," said Moran. "Trainer Richard Mandella has done an unbelievable job trying to get this horse to relax in the mornings. J.J (Hernandez) has come out multiple times in the mornings to work with him before the race. And ultimately that will be the test. Can he go two turns? Can he relax? But today was a good sign and we'll enjoy this one until the next one." 

Bred by Springhouse Farm in Kentucky, Forbidden Kingdom was sold to Spendthrift Farm and MyRacehorse for $300,000 as a yearling at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase Sale from the Paramount Sales consignment. He is out of the graded stakes-winning Five Star Day  mare Just Louise , the dam of three winners from four foals to race. 

"To have purchased this horse as yearling makes the win that much more special," said Moran. "We bought him right after the hype of Authentic   winning the Kentucky Derby. To buy him as a developing horse and go through that development process with him just makes it that more special."

Video: San Vicente S. (G2)