Dr. Schivel to get break, will return as 3-year-old

ARCADIA, Calif. – The top juvenile colt in California is done for the year and will be turned out to freshen for a 3-year-old campaign in 2021.

Dr. Schivel, winner of the Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity, will ship Thursday from Santa Anita to Rancho Temescal in Ventura County where he will stay until late December or early January.

“We’re going to give the horse a 90-day rest and bring him back as a 3-year-old,” new trainer Mark Glatt said Wednesday evening. “He does not have an injury or anything like of that nature, but he’s had quite a few hard races, and we just thought if we want to have a 3-year-old next year we better back off and let him rest for a little bit.”

After winning a highly rated maiden race in his third career start for former trainer Luis Mendez, Dr. Schivel was purchased from his breeders by a partnership that included Tim Cohen’s Rancho Temescal, his father Jed Cohen’s Red Baron’s Barn, and Dean Reeves. One of the colt’s breeders, Bill Branch, retained an interest.

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Dr. Schivel raced for the new ownership group when he won the Del Mar Futurity by 1 1/4 lengths on Sept. 7. The following day at Del Mar, he was transferred from Mendez to Glatt, who trains for the Cohens. Glatt emphasized that Dr. Schivel is not injured and does not require surgery.

“The basis for our decision is he’s had four hard races this year,” Glatt said. “Could we move on with him right now? Yeah, you might be able to, but I don’t think he would have much of a 3-year-old year.

“It was a choice that the owners collectively made to let the horse get some rest, and hopefully entertain some very nice races next year as a 3-year-old,” Glatt added.

Sired by Violence and originally owned by breeders Branch and Arnold Hill, Dr. Schivel goes to the farm having won two races and $197,000 from four starts.

Although the absence of Dr. Schivel leaves a void in the California 2-year-old division, it will be only temporary. Del Mar Futurity runner-up Spielberg and seven others entered the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. That race is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.