Art G Is Back just about ready to run again

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Art G Is Back, who has maintained good form throughout his 3-year-old campaign, returned to the work tab here Friday, breezing for the first time since his second-place finish in the Sunshine Millions Classic Preview three weeks earlier at Gulfstream Park West.

Art G Is Back looked sharp working an easy half-mile in 48.18 seconds, punctuating the move by showing excellent energy into and around the turn and galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.26 before easing up six furlongs in 1:14.81. Trainer Ron Spatz now must find a suitable spot for Art G Is Back, a son of Exchange Rate he trains for Frank Bertolino’s Monarch Stable.

“We have lots of irons in the fire for him, and he’ll be nominated to a number of different spots,” Spatz said. “Finding the most suitable one is the problem. He’s a pretty honest horse, but obviously it’s going to get really tough from here on in and we just want to make things as easy for him as we can.”

Among the options Spatz is considering are the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 14 and the seven-furlong Grade 3 Mr. Prospector on Dec. 21. Art G Is Back is unlikely to run in the 1 1/8-mile Sunshine Millions Classic on Jan. 18.

“I thought he ran well in the Sunshine Millions Preview,” Spatz said. “Turning for home when he switched to his right lead and accelerated I thought we would win. But I think the Sunshine Millions is out for me; a mile and one-eighth is too far for him. The same likely goes for the Harlan’s Holiday, although it’s still under consideration. The Mr. Prospector is probably the right spot. Seven-eighths is perfect for him, and I’m thinking about it, although it sounds like Imperial Hint is coming so the race is obviously going to come up real tough.”

Spatz said he’s also looking at a seven-furlong stakes at Tampa or an allowance race here on the turf for Art G Is Back

Spatz is still recovering from triple bypass surgery on Oct. 18.

“It all happened so fast,” Spatz said. “I really wasn’t feeling that bad. I had some burning in my chest, on and off. I went to see a cardiologist and before I knew it I was whisked into Memorial East Hospital. I’ve still got some soreness in my chest where they peeled the breast muscle back. Everyone says that’s normal. So it’s just a matter of time until everything heals up. I’m just thankful they found the problem in time.”