Bobby Abu Dhabi may be bound for True North Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – With several stakes-class sprinters in his stable, Peter Miller may send Bobby Abu Dhabi to Belmont Park for the Grade 2 True North Stakes on June 8.

Bobby Abu Dhabi won the Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes here at 6 1/2 furlongs on Saturday for his first stakes win. A 5-2 chance, Bobby Abu Dhabi stalked the pace before pulling clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths over 7-5 favorite Ransom the Moon. The Kona Gold was Ransom the Moon’s first start since a fifth-place finish in the BC Sprint at Del Mar last November.

The Kona Gold was marred by the fatal breakdown of Ten Blessings, the winner of an optional claimer for trainer Bob Baffert earlier this year. Ten Blessings was pulled up on the turn.

Bobby Abu Dhabi was second in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs March 10 behind City of Light, who later won the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap.

“I thought if he repeated the last race he’d win,” Miller said in the winner’s circle.

The True North at 6 1/2 furlongs is familiar territory for Miller. Last June, the Miller-trained Roy H won the True North. Roy H later won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint to secure the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding sprinter.

Roy H was third in the $2 million Golden Shaheen for sprinters in Dubai on March 31. Miller said Sunday that Roy H may return in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on July 28.

Miller has a strong team of turf sprinters this year and has three prospects for the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on the hillside turf course Sunday: Anatolian Heat, Belvoir Bay, and Conquest Tsunami.

The $100,000 San Simeon Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs may be the stakes debut for Anatolian Heat. Belvoir Bay, a 5-year-old mare, won the Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside March 25. Conquest Tsunami was third in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai on March 31.

Victor Espinoza, who rode Bobby Abu Dhabi, is booked to ride Conquest Tsunami.