American Gal leaning toward Bed o' Roses

ELMONT, N.Y. – American Gal, the winner of the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, likely will make her next start in the Grade 2, $250,000 Bed o’ Roses Invitational at Belmont Park on June 8, trainer Simon Callaghan said Wednesday from California.

American Gal is also nominated to the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, a one-turn 1 1/16-mile race on June 9. Callaghan said he might enter American Gal in both races but is more likely to run her in the Bed o’ Roses.

American Gal has won two Grade 1 stakes at seven furlongs – the Test and the Humana Distaff.

“Seven-eighths has obviously been a really good distance for her,”Callaghan said.

“Our end goal is the Breeders’ Cup [Filly and Mare] Sprint. At this stage, I think we’re going to keep her short.”

Meanwhile, Holiday Disguise and Highway Star, separated by a nose in Monday’s $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes, may wheel right back in the Bed o’ Roses, their connections said Wednesday.

Trainer Linda Rice said her ultimate objective with Holiday Disguise is the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga on Aug. 25. But Rice doesn’t see an ideal path to get the filly to that race, noting that six-furlong races are too short for her. Rice also said Holiday Disguise tends to get heavy with too much time between races, so she doesn’t want to wait too long to run her again.

Holiday Disguise is not on the original list of invitees for the Bed o’ Roses, but there typically is a second list.

Meanwhile, trainer Rodrigo Ubillo said he, too, is thinking of running Highway Star right back due to a lack of sufficient upcoming spots.

“So far, she’s come out of the race like it didn’t affect her,” Ubillo said. “She’s pretty bright. It all depends on who runs in the race.”

Neither Rice nor Ubillo was keen on running against American Gal.

Others pointing to the race are Divine Miss Grey, Finley’sluckycharm, Torrent, and Yorkiepoo Princess.