Chilean Group 1 winner Full of Life nears U.S. debut

ARCADIA, Calif. – Full of Life, the winner of the Group 1 El Derby and four other group stakes in Chile in 2016 and 2017, likely will make his U.S. debut this month for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

A 5-year-old by Lookin At Lucky who was bred in Chile, Full of Life worked five furlongs from the gate in 1:01.20 at Santa Anita on Thursday. Now owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, CTR Stables, and Hollendorfer, Full of Life has won 8 of 14 starts and earned $262,742. He was a Group 2 winner in his most recent start last October, and is expected to have a season of turf races, Hollendorfer said.

◗ Heck Yeah, an unbeaten 3-year-old, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on Thursday. The winner of the California Cup Derby on Feb. 19, Heck Yeah is a candidate for the $200,000 Pasadena Stakes at a mile on turf March 17, trainer Bob Baffert said.

Owned by breeder Michael Pageler with Bob Baedeker and Michael Sigband, Heck Yeah has won three races, including his stakes debut in the California Cup Turf Sprint on the hillside turf course Jan. 27.