Greenwich Village (c, 3, Quality Road–Houtzen) not only got his blinkers off and switched surfaces, but also completely changed tactics Sunday in Santa Anita’s Baffle Stakes, eschewing his pace-setting and pace-pressing past while opting instead to drop back to last down the hillside turf course.“
“After I broke a little slow, I said, Okay I’m going to stay here and make one move,’” said winning rider Juan Hernandez. “Crossing the dirt, he crossed like a professional and he was passing horses. I was like, okay let’s win this race. It was a really big effort for him because he is a really big horse, heavy, but he has a really good turn of foot.”
Greenwich Village, a $350,000 yearling buy signed for by SF Bloodstock/Starlight Racing/Madaket Stables at Keeneland September in 2024, debuted Dec. 6 at Los Alamitos with a front-running, 6 1/2-furlong score on the dirt, then tried the GII San Vicente Stakes Jan. 10 at Santa Anita, pressing the pace after a slow break and tiring late to finish last. Sunday’s Baffle Stakes marked his first try on the lawn.