Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Takaful staying local for now
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – On Thursday, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin shipped promising 2-year-olds Avery Island and Dream Pauline from Belmont Park to south Florida. One established star who stayed behind, at least for now, was Takaful, who could make his next start in New York.
Takaful won the Grade 1 Vosburgh on Sept. 30 at Belmont Park to earn a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar. Takaful did not run well in the Sprint, finishing last of 10 without an apparent excuse.
On Tuesday, he had his first workout since the Breeders’ Cup, breezing a half-mile in 48.05 seconds over the Belmont Park training track. It was the fastest of 46 moves at the distance.
McLaughlin, speaking from south Florida, said Takaful is being considered for the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen in March. He said he would like to get a race or two into the colt before then. The Gravesend, at six furlongs Dec. 23, is one option, as is the Grade 3, $100,000 Toboggan here Jan. 27.
“I wish the Toboggan was six furlongs instead of seven furlongs, but that might be what we have to do,” McLaughlin said. “We hope to run him once or twice and look at Dubai, and for now he’s in New York. He could come this way at anytime but for now he’s staying there.”
McLaughlin has always said how well Takaful has trained at Belmont and, if possible, he doesn’t want to change things up too much.
While Dream Pauline and Avery Island will train in Florida, either or both could return to New York for their next starts. Dream Pauline, who won her debut here by six lengths Sunday, will be considered for the $100,000 Ruthless Stakes at six furlongs Jan. 28. McLaughlin said the Grade 2, $200,000 Forward Gal going seven furlongs Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park also is a possibility.
“That was very impressive,” McLaughlin said of Dream Pauline’s victory.
Dream Pauline, a daughter of Tapit, out of the Grade 1 winner Dream Rush, is a half-sister to Dreaming of Julia who won the Gulfstream Park Oaks by 21 3/4 lengths in 2013.
Avery Island, second in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes, is expected to return to New York for the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes on Feb. 3.
McLaughlin said that Indimaaj, a maiden winner Oct. 25 at Belmont Park, is sidelined with a hairline fracture.
Actress to Houston Ladies
Actress, the dominant 8 1/4length winner of the Grade 3 Comely Stakes on Nov. 24 at Aqueduct, will be pointed to the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Jan. 28 at Sam Houston, trainer Jason Servis confirmed Thursday.
Servis said the timing and the 1 1/16-mile distance of that race fits into the schedule for Actress, whom Servis hopes to get to the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn in April.
Servis said that Actress would do her training in New York for now.
“I didn’t think she did that well in the heat,” said Servis, who had the filly based in south Florida last winter.
Servis will ship Pocket Change to south Florida. Pocket Change, who won his debut on dirt, raised his game when switched to the turf last Sunday, winning a first-level allowance by a length while running six furlongs in 1:07.75. He earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. He had gotten a 75 Beyer winning his debut on dirt Oct. 16 at Parx Racing.
“Irad [Ortiz] got off him after that race and said ‘I know he won, but this horse will turf,’ ” Servis said. “It was cool to watch. I kept waiting for him to stop.”
Pocket Change is by Unbridled’s Song out of an A.P. Indy mare, so Servis believes the colt should appreciate more ground. Servis already has some hardknocking turf sprinters in Rainbow Heir and Summation Time, who are pointed to turf sprint stakes at Gulfstream in January.
“It’d be hard not to sprint him for his next start, but definitely he’s got the pedigree to run all day and I think he will run all day,” Servis said.
Servis also said that Firenze Fire, winner of the Grade 1 Champagne and seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, remains on course for the Grade 3, $150,000 Jerome Stakes here New Year’s Day.