Hollywood Park notes: Merit Man getting a break

Jenny Burgos

Trainer Bob Hess Jr. said that he has yet to decide whether Merit Man will race in Florida or California this winter.

Merit Man, second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint last Friday, will be rested until the new year, with an emphasis on 3-year-old sprints, trainer Bob Hess Jr. said.

In the BC Juvenile Sprint over six furlongs, Merit Man was the 1-2 favorite in a field of five. He led by a length with a furlong remaining, but was caught late by the maiden Hightail, a 15-1 shot trained by D. Wayne Lukas.

After the race, Merit Man scoped cleanly despite racing without Lasix like all other 2-year-olds in the Breeders’ Cup, Hess said.

Hess said that he has yet to decide whether Merit Man will race in Florida or California this winter, but said that seven-furlong races such as the Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park and the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita are possible targets.

“You won’t see him until January,” Hess said. “You might not see him until February. We’ll look at one-turn races for now.”

Damascus winner may return for Malibu

Politicallycorrect, who won the Damascus Stakes over seven furlongs Saturday, could return to California for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds Dec. 26, trainer Wesley Ward said.

Polticallycorrect was scheduled to be sent to Ward’s base in south Florida this week and will remain there until mid-December.

Owned by Sarah and Kenneth Ramsey, Politicallycorrect won his second straight stakes in the Damascus. He won the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park earlier this fall.