Santiva not quite ready to start year

Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography

Santiva, Shaun Bridgmohan up, wins the Kentucky Jockey Club.

Another highly regarded 3-year-old nominated to but skipping the Holy Bull is Santiva, winner of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Cup at Churchill Downs in his juvenile finale. Santiva is stabled at Palm Meadows this winter, where he’s just beginning to gear up for his 3-year-old season.

“We backed off him in December and early January,” said trainer Eddie Kenneally. “He’s just getting going against as far as breezing, and we’ll target a late February return, probably in the Fountain of Youth. Distance is what he needs, he’s definitely on the improve, and he’s already won a graded stakes at Churchill Downs. We’ll probably look at two preps before the Derby and all other races after the Fountain of Youth are possibilities right now.”

Kenneally reported that My Jen also got a little break after finishing last of 13 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint but that she’s training well at Palm Meadows and pointing for the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie at 6 1/2 furlongs on Feb. 13. My Jen recorded her most important victory early last fall in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap.

“In the Breeders’ Cup she drew post one, was down on the rail and nothing went right for her that day,” said Kenneally. “If things go well for her we’ll look at the Inside Information and maybe the Humana Distaff back at Churchill on Kentucky Derby day.”