Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Medina Spirit has first work since having throat procedure
ARCADIA, Calif. – Medina Spirit and Rock Your World both were scheduled to take on Life Is Good in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3. Now with Life Is Good out of the race, and the win chances of both significantly upgraded, they worked Monday at Santa Anita in preparation for the West’s final prep for the May 1 Kentucky Derby.
Medina Spirit, a distant second most recently to stablemate Life Is Good in the San Felipe on March 6, looked terrific in a five-furlong drill in 59 seconds while in company under exercise rider Juan Ochoa. The time was the fastest of 34 at the distance Monday. It was his first work since the San Felipe. He’ll work once more before the Santa Anita Derby.
“He went nice, very nice,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert, who said Medina Spirit emerged from the San Felipe with a slightly entrapped epiglottis, for which he had a procedure to correct it.
“Pretty impressive he still ran that well,” Baffert said. “We scoped him after he ran. Gave him a few extra days for it to clear up.”
John Velazquez will return to Santa Anita to ride Medina Spirit.
Rock Your World, who has won on turf in both his starts, will race on dirt for the first time in the Santa Anita Derby, though all his works have been on dirt. On Monday, he was timed in 1:14.40 for six furlongs under jockey Cerapio Figueroa while in company.
“Went good, out good. Stamina drill,” said his trainer, John Sadler, who said Rock Your World would have his final work on Sunday.
Umberto Rispoli, who rode Rock Your World to victory in the Pasadena Stakes last time out on Feb. 27, has the mount.
Charlatan works easy half-mile
Charlatan on Monday morning at Santa Anita had his first work since finishing second in last month’s Saudi Cup, going an easy half-mile in 48 seconds while in company under exercise rider Juan Ochoa.
“He came back good,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert, who said he had no definitive plans for a next race for Charlatan, but when the Met Mile was suggested, he replied Charlatan would likely return to action before that race, which is on Belmont Stakes Day, June 5.
Also Monday, female sprint champ Gamine worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds as she prepares for her first scheduled start of the year, in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, May 1.
– Jay Privman
Hit the Road to hit the road
Hit the Road won his first Grade 1 in the $400,000 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 6 for his fourth career stakes win, all in Southern California.
The 4-year-old colt may race outside of the state for the first time in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile on turf at Keeneland on April 9.
Trainer Dan Blacker said on Sunday that he is finalizing a spring plan for Hit the Road, a winner of three consecutive stakes. The Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita on May 31 is a long-range goal.
Hit the Road worked a halfmile in 50 seconds on the infield training track at Santa Anita on Saturday, his first major exercise since the Kilroe Mile.
“He seems like he’s come out of the race in great shape,” Blacker said on Sunday. “Nothing is set yet. We’re looking at Keeneland. It depends on his energy.
“He worked really well.”
Hit the Road has won 6 of 9 starts and earned $494,751. The winning streak includes the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar last July and the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf here on Feb. 6.
In the Kilroe, Hit the Road rallied on the rail to finish a neck in front of the multiple stakes winner Smooth Like Strait. Trainer Michael McCarthy said on Sunday that he has not selected a next race for Smooth Like Strait, and that the $300,000 Maker’s Mark Mile is under consideration.
Count Again, a fast-closing third by a half-length in the Kilroe, will start in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 1, trainer Phil D’Amato said. The $1 million Turf Classic is run at 1 1/8 miles.
Prat to ride Mucho Unusual
Leading rider Flavien Prat has been booked to ride Mucho Unusual in Saturday’s Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita.
Mucho Unusual, trained by Tim Yakteen for George Krikorian, won the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf last September, and in November was 12th of 14 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland when ridden by Prat.
At the Santa Anita winterspring meeting, Mucho Unusual has had three different riders in as many races.
John Velazquez rode Mucho Unusual to a win in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Dec. 27. Joel Rosario was aboard Mucho Unusual for a win in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf on Jan. 18. Abel Cedillo rode Mucho Unusual to a second-place finish by a length in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf on Feb. 20.
A 5-year-old, Mucho Unusual has won 7 of 20 starts and earned $862,715. Prat has ridden Mucho Unusual five times in her career, winning twice.
Earlier this month, Mucho Unusual was named the 2020 California-bred Horse of the Year. She won 2 of 7 starts and earned $317,333 through that season.
– Steve Andersen