Eddie Haskell holds recency edge

DEL MAR, Calif. – Eddie Haskell has won 7 of 11 starts and earned $419,084 since he was claimed for $40,000 in April 2018. One of those wins came at the expense of Stormy Liberal, the 2018 champion turf male, in an allowance race at five furlongs on turf at Santa Anita in February.

They meet for the first time in six months in Saturday’s Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar. The $100,000 race at five furlongs on turf will determine how aggressively trainer Mark Glatt pursues the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with Eddie Haskell, who is owned by Jim Hailey and Philip Wood.

Glatt said on Thursday that the BC Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 is “absolutely” in the plans for Eddie Haskell, pending the Green Flash outcome.

“Let’s see how Saturday goes,” he said.

Glatt knows Stormy Liberal can be a danger, even if he has not raced since a third in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai in March.

“That horse is an old pro,” Glatt said of Stormy Liberal. “It’s only five-eighths of a mile. Good sprinters run good fresh.”

Eddie Haskell led throughout his latest win, an optional claimer at five furlongs on turf here July 24, and closed from third to win the Siren Lure Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on June 23.

“We call him steady Eddie,” Glatt said.

Stormy Liberal, trained by Peter Miller, also has a stalking style. He closed from fifth to win the 2018 Green Flash Handicap.

Miller is focused on having Stormy Liberal ready for the BC Turf Sprint, a race the 7-yearold gelding has won the last two years, at Del Mar and Churchill Downs.

“He’s healthy and he’s happy,” Miller said. “If he wins it, it’s because of class. It’s not the end game.”

Classic Fit ships in

The well-traveled Classic Fit was sent to California for Saturday’s Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar to give her a chance at her first graded stakes win. Conditions could be ideal for Classic Fit to return to trainer Mike Stidham’s base in Maryland with the mission accomplished.

Classic Fit, second in the Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park in her 2019 debut on June 29, may be the beneficiary of a speed duel in the $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes at a mile for 3-year-old fillies. Runners such as Fighting Mad and Sneaking Out have shown sufficient speed to ensure an honest pace.

Classic Fit set a slow pace in the Mother Goose, but closed from last of seven to win the Hut Hut Stakes at a mile at Gulfstream Park last December.

“We were delighted with her first race off a layoff,” Stidham said. “She grew up a little bit with time off. That’s why we stretched her out.

“Any graded win would be huge. In her race at Gulfstream, she was last and came home nicely.”

Fighting Mad was second in a productive optional claimer here on July 19. This will be her first race beyond six furlongs.

“She’s been working well,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “I’ve been high on her. She’s fast.”