Greenwich Village nails them on the wire, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA — Making his two-turn debut for trainer Bob Baffert, Greenwich Village needed every inch of real estate to win Sunday’s $100,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile on turf at Santa Anita.
Greenwich Village, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Juan Hernandez, got up in the final jump to nail pacesetter Medici (7-1) by a nose to earn his second consecutive stakes victory since being switched to the grass. Four weeks ago, Greenwich Village rallied from last to win the about 6 ½-furlong Baffle Stakes by a neck on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.
“I just love the fact that when he turned for home he found another gear,” Baffert said. “Stretching him out (further) won’t be a problem.”
Baffert added Greenwich Village could make his next start on the synthetic track at Turfway Park in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 21, which awards qualifying points to the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby.
Medici, ridden by Mirco Demuro, was making his stakes debut for trainer Richard Mandella. The Into Mischief colt set solid fractions of 22.82, 46.38 and 1:10.31 for six furlongs. Greenwich Village settled in mid-pack behind Medici while saving ground on the outside.
On the second turn, Greenwich Village was angled outside for clear racing room. He gradually carved into Medici’s lead through the stretch and just got nose in front in the final jump.
“He was a little rank, but in a good way,” Hernandez said of the winner. “He was trying to pass horses early. But I wouldn’t let him do it. I just waited a little bit and at about the three-eighths pole I started to make my move outside. It was hard, but we made it. The horse in front of me didn’t want to stop.”
Finishing a neck back of Medici in third was Iriseach (8-1), who was ridden by Antonio Fresu for trainer Phil D’Amato. Greenwich Village won in a time of 1:34.72 on firm turf.
Greenwich Village is by Quality Road out of Houtzen, who was a star turf sprinter in her native Australia. Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and partners, Greenwich Village was purchased for $350,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Prior to his two stakes wins on turf, Greenwich Village was a debut winner sprinting 6 ½ furlongs at Los Alamitos in December and then came back to finish fifth in the GII San Vicente Jan. 10 going seven furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita.
“His dirt effort (in the San Vicente) was not spectacular,” Baffert said. “His mother is all turf and she was a fast, really good filly down in Australia. That’s why we tried the turf.
“He trains like a dirt horse,” Baffert added. “It’s good that he is going the right way and he handled the two turns really well. He’s learning how to run.”
Greenwich Village paid $5.40, $4.20 and $3.00. Medici returned $6.80 and $4.20. Iriseach paid $4.80.
Live racing resumes Friday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 12:30 p.m. PT.
PASADENA STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
JUAN HERNANDEZ, GREENWICH VILLAGE, WINNER: “I had to work hard with him. It takes him a while to get going, he’s a big horse. But he has a lot of talent. He showed up again. He was a little rank, but in a good way. He was trying to pass horses early, but I wouldn’t let him do it. I just waited a little bit and at about the three-eighths pole I started to make my move outside. It was hard, but we made it. The horse in front of me didn’t want to stop.”
TRAINER QUOTES
BOB BAFFERT, GREENWICH VILLAGE, WINNER: “His dirt effort was not spectacular. His mother is all turf and she was a fast, really good filly down in Australia. That’s why we tried the turf. Before he would go out there and go too fast on the dirt, so we took him back. Today, he broke a little slow and Juan said he got a little rank on him down the backside but he’s figuring it out. I just love the fact that when he turned for home he found another gear so stretching him out won’t be a problem. Next might be the synthetic big race the (Grade III) Jeff Ruby (Saturday, March 21, 2026, Turfway Park 1 1/8 miles). Maybe we can try that, you never know. “He trains like a dirt horse. It’s good that he is going the right way and he handled the two turns really well. He’s learning how to run. He’s a big strong heavy horse. He’s got a great mind and its exciting anytime you win a stake here.”
NOTES: The winning owners are SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables LLC, et al.
