Big Hit to remain sprinting, for now

Big Hit, who scored a sharp win against maidens going 6 1/2 furlongs on Saturday, will sprint once more before being asked to try two turns again, trainer Phil D’Amato said Sunday.

“I’d like to keep sprinting him one more race, kind of build him up to something better,” D’Amato said.

Big Hit, a 2-year-old son of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, finished seventh in his debut when sprinting at Del Mar in a race won by subsequent FrontRunner Stakes winner Gormley. He then faded to sixth when sent one mile at Santa Anita. Saturday marked his third start.

“His first start he got wiped out. His second race, if I didn’t run there, I’d have had to wait. Everything came to fruition [Saturday],” D’Amato said

* Jockey Stewart Elliott was fined $300 for misuse of the whip aboard A.P. Zona in the seventh race on Saturday.

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