Enriched back quick for San Diego

DEL MAR, Calif. – Enriched will return following a week-long break in Saturday’s $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar, just seven days after a third in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes on turf.

It will not be the quickest turnaround of his career. Last fall, Enriched finished fifth in the Grade 1 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park on Friday, Nov. 27, and then finished second in an optional claimer on Wednesday, Dec. 2, just five days later.

Trainer Doug O’Neill and the partnership that owns Enriched did not hesitate to pay a $2,000 supplemental fee last Sunday to make the 5-year-old gelding eligible for the Grade 2 San Diego, which is run over 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack synthetic surface.

“It’s a solid race, but there is no male version of Zenyatta in there,” O’Neill said. “He had a good freshening going into the Eddie Read. I think he deserves a chance.”

O’Neill also could have been talking about Enriched’s jockey for the San Diego, Patrick Valenzuela.

Valenzuela, who has a history of substance-abuse problems that have plagued his career, resumed riding in California for the first time in nearly three years on Wednesday, having received a license from the California Horse Racing Board on July 22.

O’Neill wanted Joel Rosario to ride Enriched, but he was engaged to ride Dakota Phone, who was third in the Santa Anita Handicap in March.

“We’d like to have ridden Joel Rosario, but he was committed,” O’Neill said. “We’re giving Patrick a chance in there. It’s the kind of races he loves.”

Enriched, a half-brother to the seven-time Grade 1 winner Lava Man, frequently runs near the front. Valenzuela, who through Tuesday had won 4,144 Thoroughbred races, has been well-known through his career for being effective on front-runners.

Enriched has won 6 of 19 starts and $366,656. A 5-year-old gelding by the recently deceased stallion High Brite, Enriched has yet to win a stakes and has won two allowance races or optional claimers this year.

O’Neill said that Enriched’s heartiness makes it easier to consider quick turnarounds.

“He’s a strong horse and there is a lot to him,” O’Neill said. In the Eddie Read, “they were just galloping along and only finished the last three furlongs. The race was not overly taxing on him. If he runs big, we can go onto the next one.”

By that, O’Neill was referring to the $1 million Pacific Classic over 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 28.

Baffert enters trio for San Diego

Trainer Bob Baffert entered three horses in the San Diego, but may have fewer starters. Baffert entered Mythical Power, Richard’s Kid, and Sangaree, but also entered Richard’s Kid in Friday’s $125,000 Cougar II Handicap over 1 1/2 miles on the synthetic main track.

The San Diego has a projected field of 10. Aside from the Baffert trio, the field includes Battle of Hastings, Dakota Phone, Deal Breaker, Enriched, Isle of Giants, Red Eye Express, and Tres Borrachos.

The race lacks one of the division leaders from the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting in Misremembered, who won the Santa Anita Handicap for Baffert in March.

Misremembered has resumed training after being given a break in the late spring and early summer. Baffert said that Misremembered could resume racing at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting in the fall, with the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November as a long-term goal.

Acclamation getting time off

There are no late-season goals for Acclamation, the two-time graded stakes winner earlier this year who finished sixth in the Eddie Read Stakes.

Owner Bud Johnston and trainer Don Warren said Wednesday that Acclamation will be given a break. Earlier this year, Acclamation won the Grade 2 Jim Murray and Grade 1 Charles Whittingham handicaps but was a disappointment in July, finishing last of nine in the Grade 1 United Nations Handicap at Monmouth Park on July 4 before the loss in the Read.

“He came out of the race fine, but he’s running like he needs a little break right now,” Warren said.

Global Hunter recovering at clinic

Global Hunter, who suffered an injury to his right front ankle after winning the Grade 2 American Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 4, continues to make progress at a central California equine clinic, trainer A.C. Avila said.

Global Hunter underwent surgery July 5 to have a plate and 16 stabilizing screws inserted in the injured leg at Alamo Pintado Equine Clinic in Los Olivos, Calif.

Avila said the 7-year-old Global Hunter has suffered no setbacks.

“It’s been three weeks, and so far, so good,” Avila said. “He’ll stay there for at least another month. That way they can keep an eye on him.”

Owned by Monte Pyle and Shawn Turner, Global Hunter has won 8 of 30 starts and $611,365. Avila said Global Hunter will be sent to stud upon his recovery.