Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) romper RAIL TRIP (Jump Start) worked one mile in a
quick 1:36 over Del Mar’s Polytrack on Sunday, turning in his final major move
in advance of next Sunday’s $1 million Pacific Classic (G1).
Trainer Ron Ellis was not happy with the fast time.
“He went too fast. I wanted him to go nice and easy,” Ellis said,
acknowledging that Rail Trip turned the mile in handy fashion beneath regular
rider Jose Valdivia Jr.
Del Mar clockers caught Rail Trip in fractions of :24 2/5, :48 1/5 and 1:12
2/5, and the four-year-old gelding galloped out 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 3/5.
Two other Pacific Classic contenders posted Sunday works at Del Mar —
INFORMED (Tiznow) and GLOBAL HUNTER (Arg) (Jade Hunter) — while EINSTEIN (Brz)
(Spend a Buck) and PARADING (Pulpit) exercised at their respective home bases.
The ever-effusive Doug O’Neill was pleased with multiple Grade 2 winner
Informed, who drilled six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 with exercise rider David Meah.
Successful in the San Diego H. (G2) last time out, Informed posted splits of
:12 4/5, :24 3/5, :36 3/5, :48 4/5 and 1:00 4/5 and galloped out seven furlongs
in 1:25 4/5.
Meah was instructed to “go nice and easy, and that’s what he did,” O’Neill
said. “(Informed is) ready to roll. He’s coming into the race locked and
loaded.”
Eddie Read (G1) upsetter Global Hunter prepped on the firm turf course,
speeding six panels in 1:12 1/5. Omar Berrio was aboard for the work, which
ranked as easily the best of three at the distance on the surface.
“He did it very easy,” trainer A.C. Avila said. “Coming out of the work it’s
so far, so good.”
Global Hunter is coming off a solid third in the six-furlong Bing Crosby S.
(G1) on the main track.
Multiple Grade 1 king Einstein, fifth in the Arlington
Million (G1) last out, put in his final breeze at Churchill Downs, posting a half-mile in :49 3/5 over
the fast main track. The last time the Helen Pitts-Blasi veteran raced on
synthetic, he garnered the prestigious Santa Anita H. (G1).
Regular pilot Julien Leparoux will make the trek west to ride Einstein.
Grade 2 winner Parading, fifth to Rail Trip in the Hollywood Gold Cup last
out, breezed four furlongs in :48 1/5 over the muddy Oklahoma dirt training
track at Saratoga.
“We’ll get him out there (to Del Mar) Monday and see what happens,” trainer
Shug McGaughey said from the Spa.
Rafael Bejarano will handle Parading while his regular rider, Kent Desormeaux,
remains at Saratoga.
Both Einstein and Parading are scheduled to arrive at Del Mar Monday
afternoon.
Three Pacific Classic contenders are slated to work Monday — MAST TRACK
(Mizzen Mast), AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again) and COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow).