American Pharoah Could Return in San Felipe
American Pharoah, who on Monday had his first published workout since last Oct. 26, prior to missing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1 due to a suspensory-related injury, is a candidate for the San Felipe Stakes on March 7, Bob Baffert said.
“Either that or the Rebel,” Baffert said of the Eclipse Award winner as leading 2-year-old male of 2014. “He looks good. He’ll come around quick. We have the Rebel, and the San Felipe. If all goes well, he’ll be in one of those.”
The Rebel will be run at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park March 14. The Grade II, $400,000 San Felipe at 1 1/16 miles will be run at Santa Anita March 7.
American Pharoah was 12-1 in Pool 2 of the 2015 Kentucky Derby Future Wager which opened at 9 a.m. Pacific Time today.
FINISH LINES: Promising California-bred 3-year-old Acceptance, who suffered his first defeat when finishing fourth as the 1-2 favorite in the California Cup Derby on Jan. 24, has been turned out at the Old English Rancho in Sanger. “He left today,” said Kenny Black, assistant to trainer Don Warren. “He’ll be freshened to deal with some shin issues.” . . . Agent Ron Anderson reports that Joel Rosario will return to Santa Anita on Presidents’ Day, Monday, Feb. 16, to ride Matriarch winner La Tia for trainer Armando De la cerda in the Grade II, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes for older fillies and mares at one mile on turf . . . Trainer Peter Eurton has Betty’s Bambino pointed to the $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes on the hillside turf course Feb. 21, and Kobe’s Back ticketed for the Grade II San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 7 . . . Agent Tony Matos has booked Corey Nakatani on Mr. Z for D. Wayne Lukas in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Presidents’ Day . . . Flavien Prat rides Minks Aprise for Jerry Hollendorfer in the $75,000 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf next Saturday, Feb. 14, agent Derek Lawson said . . . HRTV analyst Michelle Yu will be Tom Quigley’s guest handicapper Sunday in the East Paddock Gardens at 11:20 a.m. . . . Apprentice jockey Gonzalo Nicolas has been suspended three racing days (Feb. 15, 16 and 20) for causing interference on Master Master in Sunday’s fourth race.
Source: Ed Golden, Santa Anita Stable Notes