Santa Anita: The Lumber Guy back in San Carlos

A disrupted start to 2013 appears to be behind The Lumber Guy, a Grade 1 winner in 2012.

After finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, The Lumber Guy was briefly sidelined with a bruised foot, missing an expected start in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes over six furlongs here Jan. 19. He returns to racing in Saturday’s $200,000 San Carlos Stakes over seven furlongs.

The latest evidence that The Lumber Guy had recovered from the setback occurred Sunday, when he zoomed five furlongs in 58.40 seconds in a morning workout at Santa Anita, the fastest of 38 recorded works at the distance. Garrett Gomez, who rides The Lumber Guy on Saturday, was aboard for the workout, which was much faster than a typical work for a horse trained by Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale.

“I thought he went well,” Drysdale said. “He was just breezing.”

Owned by Barry Schwartz, The Lumber Guy has won 4 of 8 starts and $736,050. The winner of the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct last April, The Lumber Guy won the Grade 1 Vosburgh Handicap last September after a four-month layoff. Trained last fall by Michael Hushion, The Lumber Guy was second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint here, closing from fourth in a field of 14 to finish three-quarters of a length behind Trinniberg.

The Malibu is The Lumber Guy’s only start for Drysdale. Since mid-January, The Lumber Guy has worked on a weekly basis for his comeback.

“I think we’re on target,” Drysdale said.

The San Carlos field is expected to be led by Midnight Transfer, sharp winner of an optional claimer in his first start in nine months Jan. 12.

Leading jockey Rafael Bejarano has the mount on Midnight Transfer.

Other probable starters are Capital Account, Clubhouse Ride, Drill, Justin Phillip, and Sahara Sky, winner of the Palos Verdes Stakes.