Brickyard Ride might step up and challenge the big boys in San Carlos

Brickyard Ride won the California Cup Sprint for statebreds on Jan. 16 in his stakes debut and may run in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 6.

Thursday, Brickyard Ride worked a half-mile in 49 seconds at Santa Anita. He was among several horses trained by Craig Lewis who worked Thursday in advance of a significant rainstorm expected to arrive later in the day.

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Brickyard Ride, a winner of 6 of 12 starts and $260,277, all for owner and breeder Sonny Pais, has won three of his last four starts. He led throughout the California Cup Sprint.

“I don’t know how good he is, but I know he has a lot of speed,” Lewis said.

The $100,000 Tiznow Stakes for California-breds at a mile on Feb. 28 is an option for Brickyard Ride, although Lewis has other prospects for that race such as Club Aspen, Margot’s Boy, and even the filly Warren’s Showtime. A multiple stakes winner, Warren’s Showtime is more likely to appear in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile for fillies and mares on Feb. 20. Thursday, Warren’s Showtime worked a half-mile in 49.80.

Because of the poor forecast, there were 179 works on Thursday at Santa Anita.

Freedom Fighter, winner of a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds at five furlongs at Del Mar last August, had the fastest of 70 works at five furlongs, going in 59.60. Trainer Bob Baffert said the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Feb. 6 is “possible” for Freedom Fighter, a colt by Violence.