Prospect Park Works Towards San Felipe

Bud Collier should have been at Clockers’ Corner Friday morning.

While he wouldn’t have hosted “Beat the Clock,” he could have emceed “Beat the Rain,” as workers were out in droves in an effort to overcome wet weather forecast to hit Santa Anita early Saturday morning, possibly jeopardizing scheduled works that day.

There were 302 recorded works Friday on the main track.

Impressive maiden winner Prospect Park was one of the Triple Crown hopefuls who worked, going five furlongs in company under Kent Desormeaux for Saturday’s Grade II, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

Prospect Park and workmate Big Tire, trained by Mark Glatt, were clocked in 1:01.40.

“He looked good,” trainer Cliff Sise Jr. said of Prospect Park, a son of Tapit owned and bred by Marty and Pam Wygod. “I got him coming home the last quarter in 23 and two.”

Firing Line, runner-up by a head to unbeaten Dortmund in the Grade III Robert B. Lewis Stakes, went five furlongs in 59.60 for trainer Simon Callaghan, who is contemplating either the Sunland Derby on March 22 or the Santa Anita Derby on April 4 for the son of Line of David owned by Arnold Zetcher.

“I’m really happy,” Callaghan said. “He galloped out in 1:12 and he looked really fluid. So far, so good.”

Under Martin Garcia, Eclipse Award winner as outstanding male 2-year-old of 2014 American Pharoah worked seven furlongs in a bullet 1:23.80 for his 3-year-old debut in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 14. It was the fastest of seven drills at the distance, the average time of which was 1:26.85.

“He’s doing good,” Bob Baffert said. “I was happy with it.”

Another Baffert trainee, San Vicente winner Lord Nelson, worked six furlongs for the San Felipe in 1:13, in company with Chasintheaces, who was clocked in 1:12.80. Bolo, also under consideration for the San Felipe, worked six furlongs for Carla Gaines in 1:13.80.

Pain and Misery, yet another ticketed for the San Felipe, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 for Richard Mandella under Flavien Prat, who rides in the San Felipe.

Mandella also sent two-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder five furlongs in 1:00.20 as she gets closer to her 5-year-old debut. “She’s coming along well,” Mandella said.

Big Macher, who has been invited to Dubai for the $2 million Golden Shaheen on March 28, worked five furlongs for Richard Baltas in 1:00.20.

At Los Alamitos, Horse of the Year California Chrome worked five furlongs in a minute flat, according to track clockers, while trainer Art Sherman caught the son of Lucky Pulpit in 59.60 with a six-furlong gallop out time of 1:13.60. Exercise rider Anna Wells was aboard.

“Really nice,” is how Sherman described the move. “It was just what I wanted. He’ll have two more works here before leaving for Dubai on March 17.”

How busy were Santa Anita clockers Friday morning?

Put it this way: “Even if the track’s open tomorrow,” said private clocker Gary Young, “I don’t think there are any horses left to work.”

Source: Santa Anita Stable Notes