Distance the rub for Hijiki

DEL MAR, Calif. – Hijiki defeated maidens sprinting at Santa Anita on the turf last time out, then came the matter of what to do next. Trainer Mike Puype said that with the suspension of grass racing at Santa Anita the last few weeks of the meet there, his options were to jam her back in two weeks or wait until Del Mar, where turf sprints are run at the abbreviated distance of five furlongs.

He decided to wait, but shortening up from 6 1/2 furlongs didn’t seem ideal, so he’s going to take a shot and try her around two turns in Thursday’s featured race 7, a first-level allowance for California-bred female grass runners going 1 1/16 miles.

“She’s definitely going to get tested,” Puype said. “She’s going a distance, this is only her third race, she’s trying winners and two turns for the first time. I’d prefer to run her 6 1/2. Five furlongs here is too short. A mile and a sixteenth is a little bit of a concern. It’s an additional two furlongs from her last race.”

The timing, though, is of benefit. Hijiki will have had two months since her last race instead of coming back in two weeks.

“Two weeks wouldn’t work for her,” Puype said. “She’s a light filly.”

Twelve were entered in the race, but with the rails set at 30 feet, a maximum of nine can start. Hijiki drew post 5. Top contenders include Summer Lady, who has finished no worse than second in her last four starts, and Lynne’s Legacy, who beat maidens going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita in her most recent start.

KEY CONTENDERS

Hijiki, by Globalize

Beyers: 68-46

◗ She debuted in a dirt sprint at Los Alamitos last September and was not seen again until her maiden win last time out May 21, so she certainly has a right to improve off that race.

Summer Lady, by Siberian Summer

Last 3 Beyers: 78-78-75

◗ She was second as the favorite against a similar group last time out at Santa Anita, which followed a victory against a starter-allowance field.

◗ Flavien Prat sticks with her. He also rode Hijiki last time.

Lynne’s Legacy, by Unusual Heat

Last 3 Beyers: 74-77-73

◗ She has improved sharply in her last four starts, which coincides with her adding blinkers and teaming up with Victor Espinoza. Espinoza guided her to victory against maidens when she came back on just two weeks’ rest.

Algorhythmic, by Vronsky

Last 3 Beyers: 75-66-44

◗ She was third in a downhill turf sprint last time out, which followed a victory on that course against maidens.

◗ Though she has yet to go two turns, her sire’s offspring usually do best with more distance.