2015 Derby runner-up Firing Line on way back

ARCADIA, Calif. – Firing Line, the 2015 Kentucky Derby runner-up, posted his first workout on the comeback trail Tuesday at Santa Anita, three furlongs in an easy 37.40 seconds.

Firing Line has not started since finishing seventh in the Preakness Stakes, after which he underwent minor surgery to remove flakes from both front ankles. The time off did him good, said trainer Simon Callaghan.

“He was always a really imposing horse physically, but now you can see he is a mature 4-year-old,” Callaghan said.

Although Firing Line is at least two months away from a comeback, Callaghan already has identified the first major objective.

“The Pacific Classic is our first, with some sort of prep before then,” he said. “There are so many options.”

Firing Line has won two races and $974,800 from seven starts.

In addition to finishing second in the Derby, he finished second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity and Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis before winning the Grade 3 Sunland Derby by more than 14 lengths.