Stars work at Santa Anita in advance of weekend rain

Juvenile champion American Pharoah worked a bullet seven furlongs in advance of the March 14 Rebel (Benoit Photos) Workers were out in droves Friday morning at Santa Anita in an effort to overcome wet weather forecast to hit the track early Saturday morning, possibly jeopardizing scheduled works that day. There were 302 recorded works Friday on the main track. How busy were Santa Anita clockers Friday morning? “Even if the track’s open tomorrow, I don’t think there are any horses left to work,” said private clocker Gary Young. Impressive maiden winner Prospect Park (Tapit) was one of the Triple Crown hopefuls who worked, going five furlongs in company under Kent Desormeaux for next Saturday’s $400,000 San Felipe (G2) at 1 1/16 miles. Prospect Park and workmate Big Tire (Candy Ride), trained by Mark Glatt, were clocked in 1:01 2/5.

“He looked good,” trainer Cliff Sise Jr. said of Prospect Park. “I got him
coming home the last quarter in 23 and two.”

Firing Line (Line of David), runner-up by a head to unbeaten Dortmund (Big
Brown) in the Robert B. Lewis (G3), went five furlongs in :59 3/5 for trainer
Simon Callaghan, who is contemplating either the Sunland Derby (G3) on March 22
or the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 4.

“I’m really happy,” Callaghan said. “He galloped out in 1:12 and he looked
really fluid. So far, so good.”

Under Martin Garcia, juvenile champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile)
worked seven furlongs in a bullet 1:23 4/5 for his three-year-old debut in the
Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park on March 14. It was the fastest of seven drills at
the distance, the average time of which was 1:26 4/5.

“He’s doing good,” Bob Baffert said. “I was happy with it.”

Another Baffert trainee, San Vicente winner Lord Nelson (Pulpit), worked six
furlongs for the San Felipe in 1:13, in company with Chasintheaces (Indian
Charlie), who was clocked in 1:12 4/5. Bolo (Temple CIty), also under
consideration for the San Felipe, worked six furlongs for Carla Gaines in 1:13
4/5.

Pain and Misery (Bob and John), yet another ticketed for the San Felipe,
worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 for Richard Mandella under Flavien Prat, who
rides in the San Felipe.

Mandella also sent two-time champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) five furlongs in
1:00 1/5 as she gets closer to her five-year-old debut.

“She’s coming along well,” Mandella said.

At Los Alamitos, Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) worked
five furlongs in 1:00, according to track clockers, while trainer Art Sherman
caught the colt in :59 3/5 with a six-furlong gallop out time of 1:13 3/5.
Exercise rider Anna Wells was aboard.

“Really nice,” is how Sherman described the move. “It was just what I wanted.
He’ll have two more works here before leaving for Dubai on March 17.”

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