Country Grammer, Smooth Like Strait among Santa Anita workers
On Friday, the major stakes winners Country Grammer and Smooth Like Strait were among the notable workers at Santa Anita.
Country Grammer worked a half-mile in 48.20 seconds, his second workout since returning to California following a win in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in March.
“He finished up nicely,” trainer Sean McCarthy said.
Country Grammer is being pointed for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar on Sept. 3, with the possibility of a start in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 30.
Country Grammer was trained by Bob Baffert for the Dubai World Cup, but has been based with McCarthy since returning to California earlier this month. Baffert is in the final days of a 90-day suspension that ends on July 2 for a medication violation found in a post-race test taken from 2021 Kentucky Derby first-place finisher Medina Spirit.
Smooth Like Strait, second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar last November, worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds, his first workout since a second at 2-5 in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 31.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait is winless in six races, all Grade 1 or Grade 2 races, since a win in the 2021 Shoemaker Mile. McCarthy said the Eddie Read Stakes is a possible destination for Smooth Like Strait, a six-time stakes winner.