Creative Cause all set to make his 2012 debut in the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita
Creative Cause has shown glimpses of his brilliance on the track every now and then in his juvenile season, and for that he has always been counted among the top contenders for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby as he enters his sophomore season.
However, unlike the other top contenders, Creative Cause is taking a more subtle route toward the Triple Crown by kicking off his 2012 campaign in the Grade 2, $150,000 San Vicente Stakes over at Santa Anita’s fast main dirt track at about seven furlongs
on 19 February, 2012.
Trained by Mike Harrington for owner Heinz Steinmann, Creative Cause has done exceptionally well in his juvenile season, but with the likes of, Hansen and Union Rags around, the Giant’s Causeway colt has gone somewhat undetected under the radar.
The silent assassin is already a grade 1 winner, by winning the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita’s dirt track on 1 October, 2011, going over a distance of 1 1/16 miles.
Coupled with Joel Rosario, the Kentucky bred colt downed Drill and Ruler of Dubai, who finished second and third, respectively, while, covered the distance in 1 minute and 42.66 seconds.
Out of mare Dream of Summer by Siberian Summer, Creative Cause was looking ominous powering down the Churchill Downs’ stretch in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall, tracking Union Rags and Hansen, but finished a lone length off the winner.
The West Coast star is certainly right up there with the early favourites for the Triple Crown, but he needs to warm up to the occasion, and a seven furlong test over Santa Anita’s dirt track is a well planned move by his connections.
He has been out since finishing third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but he has been busy since December 30. He has seven published workouts to his name since then at Hollywood Park, including a 6 furlong bullet drill on 12 February, 2012, in 1 minute
and 11 3/5 seconds.
“He seems to be coming up to the race fine," Harrington said. "I think he’s on his game.”
Joel Rosario will take the mount again for the third consecutive time on Creative Cause in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes, and the pair will break from post number 2 in a small field.
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