Black has options for U S Marshal

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – U S Marshal closed to be third in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes on Sept. 13 at Woodbine and now has several options for his next start. Trainer Ian Black said U S Marshal could run in the Grade 3, $150,000 Grey Stakes for 2-year-olds here Sunday or a maiden allowance over seven furlongs on turf here Saturday. U S Marshall also could be sent to Keeneland for the Grade 3, $250,000 Bourbon Stakes on Sunday.

“We’re probably leaning toward staying here,” Black said. “I’d like to put him in a winning situation.”

Black said that added distance would help U S Marshal, and a switch to Polytrack for the Grey Stakes wouldn’t be a concern.

“He worked very well on [Polytrack] a couple of times, but until they run on it, you never really know,” he said. “The way he trains, I think he’d be okay. I wasn’t trying to make him into a turf horse, but the race was there, and I didn’t want to go really short.”