Galilean trying to stretch his speed

CYPRESS, Calif. – Galilean, bought for $600,000 earlier this year, may be on the verge of outgrowing the California-bred stakes division.

Sunday at Los Alamitos, Galilean will be a heavy favorite to win his second stakes in the $100,000 King Glorious for statebred 2-year-olds at a mile. How Galilean runs will dictate how the promising colt is campaigned in coming months. Options include stakes for Calbreds at Santa Anita, or graded stakes leading to the $1 million Santa Anita Derby in April.

“One step at a time,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer cautioned on Thursday.

“If he can make the next step, we can think of a lot of different things.”

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Denise Barker, and William Sandbrook, Galilean is part of a field of seven in the King Glorious Stakes, the seventh of 10 races on a program that begins at 12:30 p.m., Pacific.

Sunday is the closing day of the two-week Los Alamitos winter meeting. Santa Anita opens its winter-spring meeting on Dec. 26.

KEY CONTENDERS

Galilean, by Uncle Mo Beyers: 89-82

◗ Galilean has run only in stakes in his brief career. He won his debut in the Barretts Juvenile at 6 1/2 furlongs here on Sept. 22 as the 9-10 favorite, disputing the pace before prevailing by a neck. In the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 3, Galilean again had the early lead and was beaten a neck by Cruel Intention.

“He got away from the gate a half-step slow,” Hollendorfer said.

Cruel Intention is not part of the King Glorious field and is being rested, trainer Bob Baffert said earlier this month.

◗ Galilean has a pedigree that suggests a mile should not be an issue.

“I think he can do it,” Hollendorfer said.

◗ Flavien Prat has the mount for the first time, replacing Rafael Bejarano, who is not riding at Los Alamitos on Sunday.

“The owners wanted to try Prat and see what we can do,” Hollendorfer said.

◗ Galilean was the most expensive prospect sold at the Barretts April Sale of 2-yearolds in training at Del Mar in April.

Our Silver Oak, by Unusual Heat Last 3 Beyers: 74-80-51

◗ Our Silver Oak was third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Galilean, in the Barretts Juvenile. Trained by William Morey, Our Silver Oak was later second by a half-length in an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option against open company at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 12.

“We learned that he would route,” Morey said of the Del Mar race.

◗ Drayden Van Dyke will ride Our Silver Oak for the first time on Sunday. Our Silver Oak drew the outside post, and is likely to stalk pacesetters such as Principe Carlo, who will be a longshot, and Galilean.

“There are a couple of speeds in there,” Morey said. “We’ll let Drayden make that call.”