Scenic Blast Ready for Morvich
Trainer John Shirreffs was asked about a horse other than Zenyatta at Hollywood Park on Thursday.
“We’re going to try the Morvich with Scenic Blast,” said Shirreffs from the stable kitchen porch overlooking the backside in reference to the Australian 2009 Horse of the Year being readied for the $100,000 Grade III test at six furlongs on turf Monday.
Unbeaten Zenyatta, who won her 19th straight race in the Lady’s Secret Stakes Saturday, jogged on the main track for the first time since the race in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on November 6.
Scenic Blast seeks his first United States victory in four starts. He closed well to finish fourth and second, respectively, in the Robert Kerlan Handicap here and the Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar before finishing fifth in the Del Mar Mile Handicap in his last start on August 28.
“There wasn’t much pace in the Del Mar Mile,” said Shirreffs, hoping for a more contested lead in the Morvich, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 6.
Scenic Blast, winner of the Group I Newmarket Handicap at Flemington and the Group I King’s Stand Stakes at Ascot in 2009, has won eight of 24 starts and earned $1,454,042 for Royal Aussie.
Scenic Blast is expected to be the starting highweight at 120 pounds. Other probable starters include Tropic Storm, David Flores, 118; Afleet Ruler, Joel Rosario, 115; Dilemma, Victor Espinoza, 114; Lt. Hopeful, Alonso Quinonez, 114; and Truest Legend, Patrick Valenzuela, 113.