Jolie Olimpica works for Wiley

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jolie Olimpica is heading back around two turns and is heading out of town, with the Grade 1, $350,000 Jenny Wiley on Saturday at Keeneland set for her next start after a sharp tune-up Monday morning at Del Mar.

Jolie Olimpica officially worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 after breaking off at the halfmile pole, including an eyecatching furlong from the wire to the seven-furlong pole. It all met with the approval of her trainer, Richard Mandella, who had her scheduled to fly out early Tuesday morning.

“Real nice,” Mandella said of the work.

Mike Smith, who has ridden Jolie Olimpica in all her races in this country, has the mount.

Jolie Olimpica was undefeated in her native Brazil before being sent to Mandella for owner Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms. She is 2 for 3 for Mandella, all at Santa Anita, with victories sprinting on turf in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas in January and, most recently, the Grade 2 Monrovia. Her only loss came in the Grade 2 Buena Vista, going one mile, when she finished second as the odds-on favorite to Keeper Ofthe Stars.

Several other horses of note worked Monday at Del Mar, including the top Californiabred

Fashionably Fast, who went a half-mile in 48.80 seconds in his first drill here since relocating from Santa Anita. Fashionably Fast, trained by Dean Pedersen, most recently was second in the Grade 2 Triple Bend to McKinzie, which ended a six-race winning streak.

Meal Ticket, who has won grass races here each of the last two summers, turned in her final drill for her first start of the meet Sunday in the $65,000 Osunitas Stakes for older female turf horses going one mile. Working on the dirt, which was the only surface open for works on Monday, Meal Ticket went five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Matt Chew. Meal Ticket most recently was second in the Golden Poppy last month at Golden Gate.

Sharp Samurai, third in the Grade 3 American Stakes last time out, went a half-mile in 48 seconds, the fastest time of 38 at the distance Monday, for trainer Mark Glatt in his first work since the American.

The 2-year-old Star Guitar colt Schnell, a debut winner June 26 at Los Alamitos, worked four furlongs in 49.20 for Simon Callaghan in preparation for the Grade 2 Best Pal on Aug. 8.

McCarthy stakes horses work

The cancellation of the San Diego County Fair, which traditionally precedes the Del Mar race season and makes for a frenetic turnaround before the meet begins, has afforded both the track and trainers a chance to settle in here far earlier than usual. One of the first to arrive and take advantage of the schedule was Michael McCarthy, who not only is preparing for the meet, which begins Friday, but also was able to work some of his stakes runners before important out-of-town engagements this week.

On Sunday, he put his 3-yearold colt Rushie and 3-year-old filly Speech through their final drills in advance of major stakes races at Keeneland.

Rushie, third to the highly regarded pair of Honor A. P. and Authentic in the Santa Anita Derby four weeks ago, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 for next Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Blue Grass Stakes, which offers 170 points overall and 100 to the winner toward a potential berth in the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5. The time equaled the second fastest of 33 works at the distance Sunday.

“He went fantastic,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy was similarly impressed with Speech, who flew through a half-mile in 47 seconds, the fastest time of 69 works at the distance. Speech, most recently second in the

Santa Anita Oaks, will cut back in distance and compete Friday at Keeneland in the Grade 3, $100,000 Beaumont Stakes over seven furlongs and 184 feet.

Javier Castellano will ride both Rushie and Speech. Both runners are scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Tuesday.

Both Rushie and Speech got to Del Mar last month in time to work twice here after relocating from Santa Anita. They were not alone. There were 138 workers at Del Mar on Sunday morning. When the meet comes on the heels of the fair, there are usually only a handful of works the weekend preceding the launch of the meet.

Also Sunday at Del Mar, where works were confined to the main track, Blitzkreig went a half-mile in 48.80 for Doug O’Neill in his first drill since his upset victory last month in the Grade 3 American at Santa Anita. Dogtag, recent winner of the Possibly Perfect at Santa Anita, went five furlongs in 1:00.40 for Richard Mandella. Del Mar turf course specialist Sedamar went a half-mile in 48 seconds for Shelbe Ruis. She is nominated to the $65,000 Osunitas Stakes for older female grass runners next Sunday.