BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Acknowledgemeplz, who was fourth last out in the mile-and-one-sixteenth Los Alamitos Futurity (Grade 2), will shorten up to seven furlongs for his next start Saturday in the $200,000 San Vicente for five 3-year-olds at Santa Anita Park.
Trainer Doug O’Neill will put blinkers on the Florida-bred ridgling for first time in the San Vicente, hoping for a repeat performance of his wire-to-wire decision against special weight maidens two starts back at Santa Anita on Oct. 25. That day he covered six-and-a-half furlongs in 1:15.72 on the fast track, winning by three-quarters of a length and producing a 93 Beyer Speed Figure, tops among the San Vicente entrants.
Last out, he was unable to make the lead in the Los Alamitos Futurity but kept within a length-and-a-half through a half mile before dropping out of contention around the second turn.
Acknowledgemeplz has earned $60,000 in three starts, including a second in his debut in June, for owners Purple Rein Racing and Mark D. Davis.
The partnership bought him for $75,000 out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment at the 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale. He is by Bucchero out of Starship Fantasy, by Yes It’s True and was bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon.
Kazushi Kimura will ride Acknowledgemeplz for the first time Saturday and they have drawn post four.
Bob Baffert will saddle two for the San Vicente including recent maiden winner Greenwich Village and Buetane, who was second last out on Sept. 1 in the Grade 1 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful won by Ted Noffey at Saratoga Race Course. Ted Noffey, the likely 2-year-old champion of 2025, finished the year undefeated in four starts including a victory in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) on Oct. 31.
In his only other appearance, Buetane handily won a six-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar on Aug. 3.
By Tiz the Law, out of Taboo, by Forestry, Buetane was a $1.15 million purchase by owner Amr Zedan out of the Tom McCrocklin consignment at the 2025 OBS March Sale.
Juan Hernandez will ride Buetane from post three.
Greenwich Village makes his second career start after winning a six-and-a-half maiden special weight at Los Alamitos on Dec. 6, earning $27,000 for SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.
Greenwich Village has post one and jockey Hector Berrios.
So Happy with Mike Smith aboard and Thirsty Rebel with rider Abel Lezcano complete the San Vicente field.
Return to the January 8 issue of Wire to Wire
