Departing Posts Bullet Work Ahead of Homecoming Classic

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Departing breezed a half-mile in :48 Sunday at Churchill Downs ahead of the Sept. 27 Homecoming Classic.

 

The 4-year-old gelding by War Front recorded the fastest time of 64 workers at the distance for trainer Al Stall Jr.

 

“Everything went well this morning,” Stall said. “He’s a great work horse; he always has been. That’s just what he does when he’s right and we were all happy with it.”

 

Departing started his 2014 campaign by taking an allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs on April 30, and followed that with a third place effort in the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade I) on June 14. In his only other start on the year, he finished eighth in the Aug. 2 Whitney Handicap (GI) at Saratoga, leaving his conditioner a bit puzzled.

 

“He threw a clunker in his last race; for whatever reason, we don’t know,” Stall said. “He’s been physically and mentally fine since.”

 

Stall said the Homecoming Classic was the only upcoming stakes he had Departing nominated for and that they were excited to have him back running another race at his home track.

 

“We expect him to bounce back nicely in the Homecoming Classic, where he can run right out of his stall, so we’re looking forward to it,” Stall said.

 

The $125,000-added Homecoming Classic, run at the distance of 1 1/8 miles, drew 24 nominations as one of two stakes on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Churchill Downs, along with the $100,000-added Jefferson Cup (GIII), which attracted 25 nominees.

 

Source: Churchill Downs Communications