Santa Anita: San Carlos may be next after Midnight Transfer earns 103 Beyer in comeback

Shigeki Kikkawa

Midnight Transfer, a stakes-winning sprinter, could make his next start in the Feb. 23 San Carlos Stakes.

Midnight Transfer, a stakes-winning sprinter as a 3-year-old in 2012, won his comeback race in an optional claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Midnight Transfer closed from fifth in a field of seven to win the optional claimer by 1 1/4 lengths as the 6-5 favorite. He was timed in 1:15.70, earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103.

Sunday, trainer Carla Gaines said that Midnight Transfer is likely to start in another sprint this winter. The $200,000 San Carlos Stakes over seven furlongs on Feb. 23 is a consideration.

“That’s the next logical spot,” Gaines said.

Owned by Warren Williamson, Midnight Transfer has won 3 of 8 starts and $168,050. A colt by Hard Spun, Midnight Transfer won the San Pedro Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters in January 2012. He was later third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes in March and seventh in the Santa Anita Derby in April, his final start of 2012.

Fast Bullet will miss Palos Verdes with foot abscess

The Bob Baffert-trained Fast Bullet, who was sixth in the BC Sprint on Nov. 3, will not start in the $150,000 Palos Verdes Stakes over six furlongs on Saturday.

Baffert said that Fast Bullet was found to have an abscess in a foot over the weekend. Although the abscess had showed improvement, a start in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes will not occur.

The Palos Verdes is expected to include BC Sprint runner-up The Lumber Guy as well as Comma to the Top, Justin Philip, and Private Zone, who was second in the Malibu Stakes. The Lumber Guy finished seventh in the Malibu Stakes as the 4-5 favorite.