Bogie set for return at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – Oftentimes, when a horse has been off for seven months, the natural assumption would be that something major happened. But as trainers will tell you, in many cases, it’s simply a whole lot of little things that can add up to one big layoff.

Take the case of Bogie, who, at long last, returns to action in Thursday’s featured seventh race at Santa Anita. Last summer, he was steadily improving, and appeared to be well positioned for the series of 3-year-old stakes races on grass at Del Mar.

But, according to his trainer, Paddy Gallagher, Bogie first pulled a hind-end muscle at Del Mar. Then, nearing a return in the fall, he injured a splint. And on opening day Dec. 26, his scheduled comeback in the Sir Beaufort Stakes was negated when rain forced that race to the main track.

Gallagher is crossing his fingers nothing else comes up by Thursday.

“That’s the way it always is in this game,” he said.

Bogie has not raced since June 20, when he was second in the Will Rogers Stakes at Hollywood Park. That was his third start in this country, and for Gallagher, since arriving from his native Ireland, where he won once in two starts. Though Bogie was ready to run Dec. 26, Gallagher said he backed off Bogie the first part of January owing to wet weather. Since Jan. 1, he has had just two works, the most recent with Garrett Gomez, who has the mount on Thursday.

“He worked good the other day on the grass,” Gallagher said.

Ten horses are entered in the one-mile grass race, an optional claimer with a $59,000 purse. Double Shuffle is the only horse in for a $62,500 claiming price. The other nine all have a second-level allowance condition.

Like Bogie, several other horses are coming off extended layoffs. Times Gone By has been off since May, when he finished third for the second consecutive time at this level. He has turned in a steady series of workouts for his return.

“He had some simple aches and pains, nothing major. He’s training well and I think he’ll run well,” said his trainer, Richard Mandella.

Who’s Up, who won the Generous Stakes in November 2008, is, like Bogie, making his first start since the Will Rogers.

The horse to catch should be Irrefutable, who is making his first start on turf and around two turns following a sprint win Jan. 1. The turf rails are scheduled to be out 24 feet, which will help his cause.