Fog City Stable's Roman Ruler, who has been entered in the Feb. 13 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) is unlikely to run due to a month old quarter crack, combined with bad weather, trainer Bob Baffert said Friday. "He probably won't run," Baffert said. "The rain is the culprit. I have been dealing with a fresh quarter (crack) and if you run on a wet Santa Anita track you're going to triple your problems. I'm disappointed but not worried yet. I just need to regroup and start hunting for a prep. He is fit to go a mile so we won't lose too much conditioning."Roman Ruler, who had an undescended testicle removed following a fifth-place finish in Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), had been training brilliantly, and Baffert was looking for a big effort from the son of Fusaichi Pegasus.He worked six furlongs in a bullet 1:11 2/5 from the gate at Santa Anita Feb. 6.In addition to winning the Norfolk Stakes (gr. II), Roman Ruler also captured the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II) and was second, beaten a neck, to Declan's Moon in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. II) at two.Bred in Kentucky by Needham/Betz, Liberation Farm, and Ashford Stud, Roman Ruler is out of the Silver Deputy mare Silvery Swan. He was a $500,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase.With Roman Ruler likely to be scratched, the San Vicente appears to be a showdown between Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) winner Consolidator and the undefeated Don't Get Mad. Also entered is Kirkendahl, who is looking to make amends following a fifth-place finish in the San Rafael Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 15.Overbrook Farm's Consolidator finished his 2-year-old campaign with a third-place run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Kentucky Derby winner.
B. Wayne Hughes' Don't Get Mad, a stretch-running son of Stephen Got Even, scored a pair of sharp wins at Churchill Downs last fall for trainer Paul J. McGee. He was transferred to the California barn of Ron Ellis, McGee's brother-in-law and the trainer of juvenile champion Declan's Moon. Baffert also entered Fusaichi Rock Star, who will be making his 3-year-old debut after concluding his 2-year-old campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Cowdin Stakes.$150,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II), 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey 1. Fusaichi Rock Star (FL), 115, David R. Flores 2. Kirkendahl (KY), 115, Kent J. Desormeaux 3. Don't Get Mad (KY), 115, Tyler Baze 4. Roman Ruler (KY), 122, Jerry D. Bailey 5. Consolidator (KY), 119, Victor Espinoza
