Trainer Mike Mitchell was elated with Saturday’s workouts by stable stars
Obviously and Camp Victory and stamped them ready for their respective
starts in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile and Grade 1, $250,000
Triple Bend Handicap.
The Shoemaker, which is on turf, and the Triple Bend — at
seven furlongs over Cushion Track — are “Win and You’re In” races for the
Breeders’ Cup Mile and Dirt Mile, respectively.
Obviously, who won the American Handicap on May 25,
worked five furlongs in :59 1/5, the second fastest of 39 works at the
distance that morning over Santa Anita’s fast main track. The five-year-old Irish-bred
son of Choisir has won five of
11 in the United States, is four-for-five at the Shoemaker distance on turf and
ran third to eventual Horse of the Year Wise Dan in last year’s Breeders’ Cup
Mile.
“He’s doing great,” Mitchell stated. “He galloped out super.”
Camp Victory, the defending Triple Bend champion, drilled
six furlongs in 1:13 1/5. A year ago, Mitchell, along with his family, watched
the Forest Camp gelding’s victory via computer from the intensive care unit of USC Medical Center, one day after the trainer underwent surgery for a brain
tumor.
Mitchell had a brief scare last Sunday when he collapsed
after winning the 6TH race with Gutshot Straight.
“I’m feeling much better,” Mitchell said. “It was a combination of things. I
was in the sun too long, it was awfully hot and I had a seizure. Plus, I had a
lot of caffeine in me, I was dehydrated and still a little weak from a chemo
treatment.”
Mitchell is back training at his stable and looking forward
to the Shoemaker Mile and Triple Bend. The 65-year-old is the second winningest
trainer in Hollywood Park history. He entered Sunday needing just one win to
reach 900 at the Inglewood, California, track. Bobby Frankel is the all-time leader with 952
victories.
“I’m coming out to see Obviously and Camp Victory,” he
said. “This time I’m going to bring my hat and find some shade.”
The fields for Saturday’s two Grade 1 races at
Hollywood are firming up. A field of six or seven is likely for the Shoemaker,
including Jeranimo, who won the Shoemaker last year; French Derby winner and
last-out American runner-up Lucayan; Za Approval, coming off consecutive Grade 3 victories;
and Grade 2 scorer Wilkinson.
Grade 1 winner Jimmy Creed, last seen taking the April 6 Potrero Grande, is among seven or eight probables for the Triple Bend
that also includes fellow Grade 1 hero Comma to the Top, triumphant in the Los
Angeles Handicap in late May; Grade 1 scorer Rail Trip, runner-up when last seen
in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile; dual Grade 3-placed Centralinteligence; and
Grade 1 victor Drill, fourth in the American in his last one.
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