Sparky Ville did not have the smoothest of trips in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds Sunday at Santa Anita, but he extricated himself from a tight spot at the top of the stretch and rallied to win by a nose. He returned a generous $16.80.

Sparky Ville and runner-up Dessman both earned 94 Beyer; odds-on Coliseum finished more than six lengths back in third and remains a work in progress. The San Vicente was run over a surface labelled “wet fast.” Final time for the seven-furlong race was 1:21.93.

Sparky Ville, much improved after being gelded in September, is trained by Jeff Bonde and was ridden by Joel Rosario. The son of Candy Ride has won three of eight including two stakes; his three wins came at Santa Anita. The runner-up Dessman, making just his second start, improved 12 Beyer points from his debut victory.