Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Collected impresses in work
ARCADIA, Calif. – Collected, the 5-year-old multiple stakeswinning millionaire, worked seven furlongs in 1:24.20 on Monday at Santa Anita under jockey Mike Smith, an exercise that helped soften the disappointment of a third-place finish as a heavy favorite in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 26.
Smith, trainer Bob Baffert, and owner Peter Fluor were left hoping the workout will propel Collected to an upset win in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park.
“He had a nice workout and he needed it to be,” Smith said. “It’s time to get serious. At least, we’re going in happy and comfortable he can run his best race.”
Collected started the workout about 10 lengths behind a stablemate and essentially worked alone. Jimmy Barnes, Baffert’s assistant, timed Collected in 36.60 seconds for the first three furlongs and 1:12.40 for six furlongs. Collected worked from the five-furlong pole to the seventh-eighths pole, running past the finish line and into the first turn.
“He needed to finish through the wire and the turn, and he did that,” Smith said.
Collected won the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August and was second by 2 1/4 lengths to Gun Runner in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Del Mar. In the San Antonio, Collected failed to take his customary position near the front and never threatened upset winner Giant Expectations, losing by 3 1/2 lengths.
Smith said he learned in the San Antonio Stakes that Collected can settle behind runners and that a slow pace compromised his chances.
“He relaxed so quickly and I learned that about him,” Smith said. “He ran well, but it was disappointing that he didn’t win and was 1-5.”
Collected has won 8 of 13 starts and earned $2,316,500 for Fluor’s Speedway Stable. Fluor attended Monday’s workout.
Giant Expectations and the Baffert-trained West Coast, third in the BC Classic in his most recent start, are the other two Southern California-based candidates for the Pegasus World Cup. Gun Runner will be a heavy favorite, and the runner that Baffert most fears.
“It will be tough,” Baffert said. “Gun Runner doesn’t look like he has slowed down a bit. He’s the one keeping me from getting a big, fat check.”
Unique Bella fires bullet
Unique Bella, a finalist for Eclipse Awards for outstanding 3-year-old filly and female sprinter of 2017, worked five furlongs in 59 seconds Monday at Santa Anita, the fastest of 39 recorded works at the distance.
The winner of the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs Dec. 26, Unique Bella is being prepared for the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 10 where she figures to be a heavy favorite.
“She seems very happy,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.
Owned by Don Alberto Stable, Unique Bella has won 6 of 8 starts and earned $592,400. The Santa Maria Stakes will be her first start around two turns since a win in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles last March.
Options for Itsinthepost
There is no urgency to planning a late-winter campaign for Itsinthepost, winner of the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf Jan. 6 at Santa Anita.
A closer who is best in turf races anywhere from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/2 miles, Itsinthepost has won four Grade 2 stakes in the last year. He was seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 4 at Del Mar.
Itsinthepost worked a halfmile in 49.40 seconds on the infield training track Monday.
Trainer Jeff Mullins said Itsinthepost’s weight remains fairly steady after his races.
“He doesn’t lose a lot,” Mullins said. “He only has to run a quarter-mile.”
In coming weeks, Grade 2 turf races such as the San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Feb. 3 and the San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on March 24 are likely to be considered. Both races are worth $200,000.
Owned by Jed Cohen and his family, the 6-year-old Itsinthepost has won 7 of 31 starts and earned $855,712.
Sonneteer to Razorback
Sonneteer, upset winner of the Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas last Friday, was scheduled to return to trainer Keith Desormeaux’s base at Santa Anita on Monday, but only for a limited time.
Desormeaux said Sonneteer is likely to return to Oaklawn Park for the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 19. The $500,000 Razorback Handicap is a prep for the track’s leading race for older horses – the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, a $750,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on April 14.
“He seems like he really likes it there,” Desormeaux said.
The 4-year-old Sonneteer was second in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes and fourth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park last year before finishing 16th in the Kentucky Derby.