Callaghan intends to take his time with Firing Line

Firing Line, second in the Kentucky Derby earlier this year and second in the Los Alamitos Futurity last December, is scheduled to return to trainer Simon Callaghan’s stable at Santa Anita on Sunday.

Callaghan said he intends to take a patient approach to the start of Firing Line’s 4-year-old season in 2016.

“We’re not setting any specific targets,” he said. “We’ll take our time, and when the horse is ready we’ll look for a race.”

Callaghan said the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 12 “will be a touch quick.”

Owned by Arnold Zetcher, Firing Line has won 2 of 7 starts and has earned $974,800. He finished seventh in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico last May in his most recent start. In early summer, Firing Line had a bone chip removed from an ankle.

Callaghan saw Firing Line on a recent trip to Kentucky.

“He looks like he’s physically done well with the break,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting him back.”