Pavel back at O’Neill’s barn, will train up to BC Classic

CYPRESS, Calif. – Pavel, winner of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap in June at Churchill Downs, has resumed training with Doug O’Neill at Santa Anita and is on schedule for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November.

O’Neill said Thursday that Pavel rejoined his stable earlier this month following a weeklong break at a local farm in late August. Pavel was second to Accelerate in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 18 at Del Mar.

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Pavel will not start before the BC Classic on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, O’Neill said.

“He looks phenomenal,” O’Neill said. “If all goes well, he’ll have his first workout next week.”

Pavel earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Classic with his win in the Stephen Foster. A 4-yearold, Pavel has won 3 of 11 starts and earned $1,375,000. He was fourth in the $10 million Dubai World Cup earlier this year.

Stakes winner Mended retires

Mended, a $12,500 claim who won 10 consecutive races and became a stakes winner in 2017, has been retired, trainer John Martin said Friday.

Mended finished last of five in the Tranquility Lake Stakes on Aug. 24 at Del Mar. She was recently shipped to Kentucky’s Taylor Made Farm, which bought a 50 percent share in the 5-year-old mare from owners Troy and Maritza Onorato.

“It was time to give her a vacation and bring her back, or retire her,” Martin said. “We didn’t want to push her.

“We’re happy she’s retired in good shape and should be happy in retirement.”

By Broken Vow, Mended was claimed for $12,500 from a fourth-place finish on Jan. 6, 2017, at Golden Gate Fields. She won her next 10 starts – seven races at Golden Gate Fields, one at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, one at Del Mar, and the $110,000 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper Stakes at Gulfstream Park last December, her 10th and final win.

Mended was winless in five starts this year, including a head loss to Mopotism in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes in January at Santa Anita and a second, by 6 1/2 lengths, to Fault in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational in March.

Martin said Mended thrived while training on the Tapeta Footings synthetic surface at Golden Gate Fields.

“She wasn’t training as well when I took her to Southern California and trained her on dirt,” said Martin, who is based at Golden Gate Fields. “A lot of the wins came here or when I shipped her out of here.”

Mended won 13 of 31 starts and earned $385,144. She earned $340,074 after being claimed.

Blackjackcat training with Glatt

Blackjackcat, third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last November at Del Mar, recently resumed training with Mark Glatt.

A three-time stakes winner last year, Blackjackcat was rested after a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile in June at Santa Anita.

“He’s about ready to breeze,” Glatt said.

Owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood, the 5-year-old Blackjackcat has won 6 of 18 starts and earned $588,415. He was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by World Approval in the 2017 BC Mile.

Glatt has aspirations for this year’s BC Mile with the 4-year-old Sharp Samurai, who finished third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 19, but was promoted to second after a rival was disqualified and placed third for causing interference.

Sharp Samurai is likely to start in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile, a $200,000 turf race Oct. 6 at Santa Anita.

Spectator, winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar in 2017, has returned to Southern California after a disappointing summer in New York.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said Spectator has been turned out for a brief rest and will rejoin his stable this autumn. The Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs Dec. 26 at Santa Anita is a long-term goal.

Owned by Rick and Sharon Waller and Little Red Feather Racing, Spectator was sixth in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes on July 8 at Belmont Park and last of eight in the Grade 1 Test Stakes on Aug. 4 at Saratoga, when trained by Michelle Nevin.

Earlier this year, Spectator was second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks.

◗ Sunday’s nine-race program at Los Alamitos marks the conclusion of the second of three weeks of the Los Angeles County Fair meeting, which runs through Sept. 23. The last week of racing from Sept. 20-23 is highlighted by the $100,000 Barretts Juvenile for 2-yearolds on Sept. 22.

Santa Anita opens its sixweek autumn meeting Sept. 28.