CashCall Futurity winner Shared Belief may prep just twice for Kentucky Derby

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Shared Belief, the runaway winner of the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity on Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park, came out of the race in good order and will now head to Santa Anita, where he will be stabled and make his next start.

Dan Ward, the assistant to trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer, on Sunday morning here said that Shared Belief is scheduled to have two or three starts next spring as preps for the Kentucky Derby. Both the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 8 and the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 5 are on the prospective schedule. The only question would be whether to begin the 2014 campaign in the Grade 2, $200,000 Robert Lewis Stakes on Feb. 8.

The two-prep plan was more likely as of Sunday, but there will be plenty of time to sort all that out in upcoming weeks. What Ward and Hollendorfer know for certain is they have a very exciting prospect who is unbeaten and untested in three starts, and who got the highest Beyer Speed Figure of his career, a 106, in the Cash Call Futurity.

Shared Belief got an 84 in his debut against maidens at Golden Gate, and a 99 in the Hollywood Prevue. He has won by margins of seven, 7 3/4, and, on Saturday, 5 3/4 lengths.

Hollendorfer-trained Tamarando, who finished third in the Cash Call Futurity, is scheduled to make his next start against California-breds in the $250,000 California Cup Derby on Jan. 25.

Candy Boy, who finished second, and Kobe’s Back, who finished 10th after clipping heels, both were fine Sunday morning, according to their trainer, John Sadler.

“Kobe’s Back went right down to his knees when he clipped heels,” Sadler said. “He deserves another chance. He trained sensationally coming into the race.”

As for Candy Boy, “He ran a big, big race,” Sadler said.

“He’s steadily improving,” Sadler said. “The thing I like best about him going forward is that he’s a mile-and-an-eighth, mile-and-a-quarter horse, no problem.”

Tap It Rich, who bolted on the first turn under jockey Mike Smith and finished 11th in the 12-horse field, also was reported in good condition by his trainer, Bob Baffert.

“He’s funny with his mouth. We tried a different bit, but when Mike grabbed him he lost all control,” Baffert said. “We’re going to have to start from scratch with him. He won’t run back right away. He’s a head case. He’s immature. I’ve got four months to straighten him out.”

New Year’s Day, whom Baffert trained to a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 2 and then was freshened, had his first work since the Breeders’ Cup on Sunday morning at Santa Anita. He went an easy three furlongs in 37.80 seconds.

Baffert said New Year’s Day was scheduled to have his first start of 2014 in the Lewis.

Both New Year’s Day and Shared Belief are expected to be two of the three finalists for the Eclipse Award as champion male 2-year-old. Ballots for the Eclipse Awards were delivered to voters this week, but are not due until Jan. 3. Finalists will be announced Jan. 7.