Don't Tell Sophia, Flashy American to Meet

The last time multiple stakes winners Don’t Tell Sophia and Flashy Amercian met, they finished second and third, respectively, behind Wine Princess in the Graded 2 Fall City Handicap at Churchill Downs last November. Fast forward three and half months, and Don’t Tell Sophia is now riding a two-race win streak having already won the Pippin and Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn and Flashy American has been training forwardly for her seasonal debut. Both are slated to meet in next Saturday’s $200,000 Azeri Stakes (G2).

In preparation for that race, Don’t Tell Sophia worked five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 Saturday under regular rider Channing Hill. It was the second fastest of 57 at the distance.

“It was a good work,” trainer Phil Sims said. “She finished up well and she’s still on track for the Azeri.”

Flashy American posted the bullet five furlong work of the day, covering the distance in 1:00 2/5.

“This sets her up really well for the Azeri,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “She’s right and ready and did it all on her own.”

Sister Ginger, third in both the Pippin and Bayakoa Stakes, also worked Saturday morning at Oaklawn, breezing five-furlongs in 1:01 2/5.

2013 Apple Blossom winner On Fire Baby is scheduled to work Sunday morning in preparation for her seasonal debut in the Azeri.

Nominations for the Azeri Stakes, named in honor of the three-time Apple Blossom Handicap winner, were released Saturday with 25 names.

Tanzanite Cat Works, Next Start Still Undecided

Smarty Jones Stakes winner Tanzanite Cat, most recently fifth in the Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 17, worked well Saturday morning, but trainer Cody Autrey is waiting a few more days before committing his lightly raced colt to next Saturday’s $600,000 Rebel Stakes (G2). The Graeme Hall colt worked a half mile in :51 3/5 with jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. on board.

“He worked really good,” Autrey said. “He definitely worked well enough to go in the Rebel. We’ll just take a look at things this week, see who else shows up. There are several other options for him.”

Autrey had earlier mentioned the Sunland Derby March 23 or the Northern Spur on the April 12 Arkansas Derby undercard as the other possible races.

Entries for the 1 1/16-mile Rebel Stakes will be taken Wednesday, March 12.