Bobby Abu Dhabi, Midnight Pleasure return Sunday

ARCADIA, Calif. – Two hotshot 3-year-olds compromised by minor issues in Grade 1 races for 2-year-olds last year return in a strong first-level allowance sprint Sunday. Bobby Abu Dhabi, recovered from a foot issue, and Midnight Pleasure, who had throat surgery, face Aquamarine and the California-bred stakes colts Green With Eddie and Milton Freewater in race 3 at Santa Anita.

Bobby Abu Dhabi finished fourth of five in the Los Alamitos Futurity, won by Mastery on Dec. 10. “He came out of the Futurity with an abscess in his foot, and it’s been very slow to come around,” trainer Peter Miller said. “But he’s good right now, and I expect him to run a good race.”

Bobby Abu Dhabi won his career debut prior to the Futurity. Miller also entered the last-out maiden winner Pundy in the Sunday allowance.

Midnight Pleasure, third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and fourth in the Grade 1 FrontRunner while compromised by breathing problems, underwent tieback surgery following the FrontRunner. Trainer Mick Ruis said, “He’s breathing really well now.”