Charlatan, winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds on Dec. 26, worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 on Wednesday, his second workout within a week at Santa Anita.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Charlatan is considered the early favorite for the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 20. Knicks Go, winner of the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park last Saturday, also is being considered for the Saudi Cup, which is run at 1 1/8 miles.
Tom Amoss could enter as many as three horses in the Feb. 13 Rachel Alexandra, but breakout maiden winner Li’l Tootsie is not one of them.
Li’l Tootsie, who got an 89 Beyer Speed Figure for her second-start maiden win Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds, had been under consideration for the Rachel Alexandra but instead will be aimed toward the six-furlong Dixie Belle on Feb. 13 at Oaklawn, Amoss said.
“We’ll give her at least one more sprint,” he said.
Los Alamitos will race two days this week and not at all next week, canceling Friday’s program because of an expected rainstorm and taking a scheduled winter break next week.
Los Alamitos is the second California track to preemptively cancel racing Friday. Santa Anita also announced that it would not race Friday. Both tracks are scheduled to race on Saturday and Sunday.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A decision on whether to give the Kentucky Derby trail a shot is pending as Fire At Will continues to work back into shape after upsetting the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in his latest start.
“We’re still talking about it,” said Mike Maker, who trains Fire At Will for the Three Diamonds Farm of Kirk Wycoff.
:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Gulfstream Park Clocker Report
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Shug McGaughey will be looking to go down the Kentucky Derby trail with Greatest Honour when he saddles the Tapit colt Saturday for the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, the first of three major Gulfstream Park preps toward the May 1 Derby.
“I do think he has a chance to be a nice horse,” McGaughey said. “I think he’ll run as far as they want to run.”
:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Senor Buscador, who closed at 34-1 in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, has options at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn for his 3-year-old debut, trainer Todd Fincher said Tuesday.
Senor Buscador won the $200,000 Springboard Mile in December at Remington Park. He’s since been working regularly at his winter base of Sam Houston.
“He’s been working well and is ready to run, whenever we find a spot,” Fincher said. “It’s either going to be the Risen Star or the Southwest. Probably the
Essential Quality, the odds-on favorite to be named champion 2-year-old of 2020 when the Eclipse Awards are announced this week, will make his 3-year-old debut in the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 15 at Oaklawn Park, trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday.
Bell’s the One, a Grade 1 winner last year and third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, has rejoined trainer Neil Pessin’s barn and should post her first 2021 work in a week or 10 days, Pessin said. Bell’s the One was turned out at a Kentucky farm following the Breeders’ Cup but has resumed steady galloping in New Orleans.
“She’s training just as good or better than she ever has,” Pessin said.
Bell’s the One will make her 2021 debut in the Madison Stakes at Keeneland in April.
The minor illness that kept Mystic Guide from a start last weekend in the Pegasus World Cup is fully behind him as the colt worked a strong six furlongs in 1:14.20 on Friday at Fair Grounds.
Winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes and most recently second in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in October, Mystic Guide caught a little virus percolating in the Fair Grounds equine population and didn’t post a timed workout between Dec. 15 and Jan. 15. Now, he’s gotten back on a regular work pattern and is on course to make his 4-year-old debut in February.
