Sahara Sky back at Hollywood; Breeders’ Cup Sprint next
major target
Sahara Sky returned to his regular stall at Hollywood Park Wednesday after a
triumphant victory in Monday’s Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.
“He was happy to be home,” remarked Dan Ward, assistant to Hall of Fame
trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. “We put him in an outside pen when he got back and
he was rolling around and having a ball.”
Ward said the last time he got that excited was when Dakota Phone won the
2010 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
“It was the same rider (Joel Rosario), the same distance and a big race,” he
said.
Ward added that Sahara Sky has shown he’s best around one turn and the
five-year-old son of Pleasant Tap will be pointed for the $2 million Breeders
Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on November 2.
Meanwhile, Marketing Mix and Tiz Flirtatious, who finished a head apart in
Monday’s Grade 1 Gamely, both came back in good shape but may be headed in
different directions.
“She came back tired, but that was to be expected with the effort she put
out,” trainer Marty Jones said of runner-up Tiz Flirtatious. “If everything
looks good, her tentative schedule will be the John Mabee at Del Mar, Rodeo
Drive at Santa Anita and then the Breeders’ Cup (Filly and Mare Turf).”
Aimee Dollase, who is supervising Tom Proctor’s stable while the trainer is
in Chicago, said Marketing Mix returned well and is also pointing for the
Breeders’ Cup, but probably will take a different route by running next in
either New York or Arlington Park.
In other related news, Peter Miller said Los Angeles Handicap winner Comma To
the Top came back “super” and will run next in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap
on June 29.
Schiaparelli, impressive winner of Sunday’s Great Lady M., is doing well and
on course for the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Mile on July 6, according to trainer
Mike Puype.
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