Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) hero RAIL TRIP (Jump Start) was the marquee name
among a quartet of horses posting Sunday works in advance of the September 6
Pacific Classic (G1). Completing the gang of four were TRES BORRACHOS
(Ecton Park), INFORMED (Tiznow) and SONG OF NAVARONE (Sultry Song).
Rail Trip traveled one mile in 1:39 over Del Mar’s Polytrack, a work that
left trainer Ron Ellis smiling.
“It was really a nice move,” Ellis said. “He showed a lot of energy and
pulled up like he hadn’t even been out.”
With regular rider Jose Valdivia Jr. aboard, Rail Trip was caught in
fractions of :12 2/5, :25, :37 2/5, :49 3/5, 1:02, 1:14 1/5 and 1:26 3/5.
Ellis said that Rail Trip would have his final pre-Pacific Classic work,
another mile, next Sunday, again with Valdivia in the irons.
Also at Del Mar, Californian S. (G2) and San Diego H. (G2) winner Informed
turned in what was called “a maintenance work” by Dennis O’Neill, trainer Doug
O’Neill’s brother.
Recording his first move since his photo-finish coup in the August 2 San
Diego, Informed covered five furlongs in 1:02 1/5.
“It was a lung opener, and he galloped out great,” said O’Neill, who was
deputizing for his brother who was not on hand after arriving late Saturday from
a race in Canada. “We’ll get more serious next week.”
Just prior to the Rail Trip move, Walther Solis sent out Song of Navarone for
a drill that the trainer termed “perfect.”
A five-time stakes winner who was most recently third in the San Diego, Song
of Navarone negotiated five-eighths in 1:01 3/5 with rider Joel Rosario in the
saddle.
Solis said that his charge galloped out strong and would put in his final
move in “an easy half-mile” next Sunday.
At Santa Anita, trainer Beau Greely reacted in a like manner as Tres
Borrachos buzzed through five Pro-Ride furlongs in 1:02 3/5.
“It was a very good work,” Greely said from his Arcadia, California, base. “I
caught him going out six furlongs in 1:14 and change, so it was the kind of work
we wanted. It set him up just right.”
Grade 2 scorer Tres Borrachos was most recently runner-up to Rail Trip in the
Hollywood Gold Cup.
Greely said he would ship the four-year-old gelding to Del Mar probably on
Thursday and be on the track to train on Friday morning, with a final Pacific
Classic workout on Monday. He said he might have regular rider Joe Talamo for
that drill.
In other Pacific Classic news:
Scheduled to work at Del Mar on Monday is MAST TRACK (Mizzen Mast), last
year’s Hollywood Gold Cup winner who was just caught by Informed in the San
Diego last time out. Eddie Read (G1) upsetter GLOBAL HUNTER (Arg) (Jade Hunter),
multiple Grade 1 veteran COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow) and Swaps S. (G2) victor
MISREMEMBERED (Candy Ride [Arg]) are expected to post moves later in the week.
Nominations for the Pacific Classic close Wednesday, and a number of other
horses are under consideration for Del Mar’s signature event. Two are exiting
races on dirt — Grade 2 scorer AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again), who exits a
runner-up effort in the Longacres Mile (G3) and would be making his third
appearance in the Pacific Classic, and BULLSBAY (Tiznow), winner of the Whitney
H. (G1) last time out at Saratoga.
Three others are contemplating a switch from turf: multiple Grade 2 victor
COWBOY CAL (Giant’s Causeway), who comes off a third in the Fourstardave (G2) at
Saratoga; Secretariat S. (G1) winner TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score); and turf
star GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat), who racked up his fourth straight Grade 1
title in the Arlington Million (G1).