Conquest Farenheit will stick to turf for Pasadena Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Conquest Farenheit is staying on turf after winning the first stakes of his career in the $81,890 Baffle Stakes for 3-year-olds on the hillside course at Santa Anita last Monday.

Trainer Peter Miller said he plans to start Conquest Farenheit in the $75,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf March 19. There are no plans to try Conquest Farenheit in a Triple Crown prep.

“He came out of the race great,” Miller said. “It looks like we’ll go to the Pasadena and stretch him out for the mile.”

Conquest Farenheit finished third in an optional claimer on dirt in early February, and Miller said he is not eager to try the surface again. Miller said his experience with Comma to the Top in the 2011 Kentucky Derby has left him reluctant to pursue the race with Conquest Farenheit. Comma to the Top raced near the front before fading to finish 19th behind Animal Kingdom in the Kentucky Derby.

“I think the trip of Comma to the Top took care of the Derby fever I had,” he said. “I’m not going to squash a square peg into a round hole.”

Conquest Farenheit races for Gary Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch and Chad Littlefield.