Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Abel Tasman has La Troienne as her main spring objective
ARCADIA, Calif. – Abel Tasman, the champion 3-yearold filly of 2017, is getting closer to a return to action, with her main spring goal being the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby weekend.
How she gets there is still to be determined, trainer Bob Baffert said. But based on how far she has progressed, with a five-furlong workout in 1:00.80 on Thursday at Santa Anita, Abel Tasman should have time for at least one prep before the La Troienne.
“She’s doing really well,” Baffert said Friday.
The La Troienne, for older females, takes on added significance this year because it will be run at the same track where the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the championship race for the division, is run six months later. The La Troienne is at 1 1/16 miles, the Distaff at 1 1/8 miles.
Abel Tasman finished second in last year’s Distaff to champion Forever Unbridled in her most recent start. She was turned out at a local farm run by Julie AdairStack before coming back into training at Santa Anita, a schedule that was used repeatedly by trainer Richard Mandella with the multiple Eclipse Award winner Beholder.
Baffert’s top older female from last year, Vale Dori, only recently returned to serious training following a lengthy vacation after finishing second in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes last summer at Del Mar. She worked three furlongs at Los Alamitos on Thursday in 38.20 seconds.
“She’s still a ways off,” said Baffert, who said the plan is for Vale Dori to remain in training this year at age 6.
Lombo works for San Felipe
Lombo, upset winner of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes for Kentucky Derby prospects earlier this month, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Friday at Santa Anita for trainer Mike Pender as he readies for a far bigger test March 10 in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, which is expected to attract Bolt d’Oro and either McKinzie or Solomini, among others.
The San Felipe is worth 50 points to the winner under the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the field for the May 5 Derby, essentially making it a Win and You’re In race.
Also Friday, male sprint champ Roy H worked five furlongs in 1:01 for trainer Peter Miller as he moves toward a start in the Grade 1 Triple Bend on March 10. That is expected to be his tune-up for the Golden Shaheen in Dubai three weeks later.
Both the San Felipe and Triple Bend are worth $400,000. They are part of a blockbuster card that also includes the Kilroe Mile – the next stop for male turf champ World Approval – as well as the Santa Anita Handicap.
Nero, Ax Man staying ready
Nero, second in the San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 10, and Ax Man, fourth as the favorite in that race, both had easy half-mile drills Thursday as they ready for their next starts, which could come out of town, trainer Bob Baffert said.
“I’m going to nominate a bunch of horses to a bunch of races and take a look,” he said. “They’ll be nominated everywhere.”
One race that could be tempting for both is the Gotham Stakes on March 10 at Aqueduct since it is a one-turn mile and neither colt has yet to run two turns. Kanthaka, the San Vicente winner, is scheduled to go to the Gotham for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Nero worked his half-mile in 48 seconds, while Ax Man was timed in 49.40.
Two reappointed to CHRB
Madeline Auerbach and Alex Solis have been reappointed to four-year terms with the California Horse Racing Board, it was announced this week. Both were reappointed by Gov. Jerry Brown. Reappointment requires state Senate confirmation, but that is pretty much a formality.
Auerbach, a prominent owner and breeder in California, has been on the board since 2014. She is a co-owner of Majestic Heat, who heads the field Sunday in the Spring Fever Stakes at Santa Anita. She also is very active in working with associations that retrain Thoroughbreds for post-racing careers, most notably CARMA, which she founded.
Solis, a former jockey who was voted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2014, has been a board member since 2015, when he was still riding.