Divisidero has second work, points toward Gulfstream Turf Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Watching Divisidero train at Gulfstream Park on a regular basis over the past two winters has been a treat, and it was good to see the Grade 1 winner back to prepare for another campaign under the watchful eye of trainer Buff Bradley.

Divisidero turned in his second work on the comeback trail Friday, cruising an easy half-mile in 51.04 with regular rider Edgar Prado aboard. Divisidero has not started since finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont Park on June 11. In his previous start, the son of Kitten’s Joy rallied to a game win over World Approval in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

“Edgar said if he wanted to, he could have gone much faster this morning,” Bradley said by phone while en route to Tampa Bay Downs after the work. “And he wasn’t breathing hard when he came back to the barn. He went an easy three-eighths last week, so now I know about where we’re at with him. We’ll pick up the pace a little bit and get a more serious work into him in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, we’ll be looking to run in January.”

Bradley said Divisidero had nothing serious wrong with him after the Manhattan but just “needed some time.”

“He was a little jammed up after his last start, nothing major, so we just sent him straight to the fields,” Bradley said. “We gave him plenty of time, and he was training at the training center before coming down here, so he has some fitness into him.”

Bradley said his two early goals next season will be the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on Feb. 11 before heading back to Churchill Downs to defend his title in the Turf Classic.