Astute sore after recent workout

Astute, the easy winner of the Dezi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar in November, faces an uncertain short-term schedule after emerging from a recent workout “stiff and sore,” trainer Richard Mandella said Friday.

Astute worked six furlongs in a rapid 1:11.60 on Feb. 28 at Santa Anita, but has not been in training this week, Mandella said.

“She had another little setback,” he said. “It’s no big deal. We had to back off for a week. We’re not going anywhere for a little while. We’re in limbo now.”

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Owned by the LNJ Foxwoods Stable of Larry, Nancy, and Jaime Roth, Astute has not raced since a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes on Dec. 5 at Los Alamitos. Astute emerged from that race with a bruised foot. She was sidelined by illness earlier this year.