Southern Phantom 'getting better' with second race Saturday

The debut of Southern Phantom — the 2-year-old colt with a face so white he requires sunscreen — didn’t temper trainer Eric Guillot’s expectations.

As the son of Bodemeister approaches his second start, set for Race 2 on Saturday at Saratoga, Guillot’s eyeing something bigger for Southern Phantom. He told the Albany Times-Union that the Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept. 3 could be an option.

"He is getting better," Guillot told the Times-Union. "He is still growing, you know? This horse is going to be all right. I don't know how far he wants to go, but he is bred to go two turns."

Southern Phantom was away from the gate slow but rallied for fifth in a field of 10 back on July 21. That maiden special weight race may have been a particularly difficult spot in hindsight as the winner, Nitrous, will certainly move on to stakes competition.

A defeat didn’t stop the flow of people to Guillot’s Saratoga barn. This week, there was a New York Times vignette on Southern Phantom, who in addition to his flashy face has one blue eye, distinctive markings on each of his legs and a multicolored tail.

Out of the Bernardini mare Out for Revenge, Southern Phantom posted a bullet workout between starts, breezing four furlongs in 47.87 seconds on Sunday. Importantly, it came from the gate.

Southern Phantom is a 7/2 coupled entry Saturday with D. Wayne Lukas-trained Speed App, who’s also campaigned by Calumet Farm. Post time is 1:33 p.m. ET.