Gulfstream Park: Little Mike gets back to work

Tom Keyser

Little Mike worked a half-mile in 51.06 on Saturday in preparation for a race in Dubai.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Little Mike, an Eclipse Award finalist in two categories, breezed a very easy half-mile in 51.06 seconds immediately after the second renovation break here at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. It was his first work since closing out his spectacular 2012 campaign with an impressive victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Little Mike, who also won the Arlington Million and the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs last season, is expected to make his 2013 debut in Dubai on March 9 as a prep for either the $5 million Sheema Classic or $10 million Dubai World Cup three weeks later.

“He went very well,” said trainer Dale Romans. “We just wanted to go nice and easy with him. He finished up well, galloped out good. That’s all we wanted to see. He’s easy to get fit. I might throw him on the grass later, but he works well on the dirt. I think he gets more out of it.”

Romans was also very pleased about the way his top 3-year-old prospect Dewey Square worked several minutes later. With jockey Corey Lanerie aboard, Dewey Square went six furlongs from the five-eighths pole in 1:13.62, posting splits of 24.81 for the opening quarter and 36.78 for three furlongs before galloping out seven-eighths in 1:26.56 and pulling up a mile in 1:40 and change.

“He’s doing better and better every week,” said Romans. “Corey loved him.”

Dewey Square will kick off his 3-year-old campaign in the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Jan. 26.