Trainer Bob Hess Jr. is hoping Fog City Stable's D'wildcat can approximate his last performance when he meets unbeaten Lasersport Saturday in the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs. D'wildcat smoked a maiden allowance field in his second career start Jan. 6 in a six-furlong time of 1:08.76, only four ticks off the track record. D'wildcat breezed four furlongs in :49.20 Tuesday in his final San Vicente tuneup."He'll regress a bit (off of his maiden win), I'm sure," said Hess Wednesday morning. "But none of the telltale signs of a 'bounce' are evident at this point. He's put on weight, bulked up quite a bit since the last race."
Hess said he'd like to take a bit more time between races but, at the same time, the Forest Wildcat colt is feeling great and the time to strike is when the iron is hot. "He's coming back a little sooner than we'd like," Hess confessed. "But he needs the race. He needs to mature."When purchased by Bob Hess Sr. for $600,000 on behalf of David Shimmon at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March sale, D'wildcat was the highest-priced 2-year-old ever sold by the sales company.The race will be broadcast on ESPN2 from 6:30-7:00 p.m. (ET). The field for the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes from the rail out with weights and jockeys:
1. Jamaican Rum, 120, Eddie Delahoussaye
2. Lasersport, 120, Corey Nakatani
3. Early Flyer, 113, Chris McCarron
4. D'wildcat, 113, Kent Desormeaux
5. Bills Paid, 113, Tyler Baze
6. Dr. Park, 113, Laffit Pincay Jr.
