Fast Enough likely to try graded company in San Felipe

ARCADIA, Calif. – The undefeated stakes winner Fast Enough is likely to have his graded stakes debut in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds on March 7 after a hard-fought win in Saturday’s $200,500 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita.

Fast Enough won the California Cup Derby for California-bred and California-sired horses by a neck in his first start since a win in a maiden special weight race at 4 1/2 furlongs last May. Trainer Rafael Becerra said on Monday that the $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles is the tentative plan, pending a discussion with owner and breeder Craig Martin.

“I liked what I saw,” Becerra said. “It worked out pretty good.

“I’m thinking we’ll try him with the big ones and see if he is good enough. My opinion is we’ll go for the San Felipe. That would be my guess.”

In the California Cup Derby, Fast Enough ($11.60) closed from seventh in a field of nine to beat 36-1 Sacred Rider. Fast Enough finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.23 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 76.

“I like the way he came back,” Becerra said. “We’re thrilled.”

Last summer, Fast Enough was taken out of training with sore shins, missing a scheduled start in the $100,000 Graduation Stakes for 2-year-old statebreds at Del Mar on Aug. 2.

“In his last workout, he had some shins and then he got a little sick on me,” Becerra said.

After that diagnosis, Fast Enough was rested for the rest of the summer and early fall before resuming workouts in early November.

“I think it worked out perfectly,” Becerra said. “His shins are 100 percent.”

Fast Enough was bred in Kentucky and is by Eddington. He is eligible for California-bred or California-sired races because Eddington stands at Ballena Vista Farm in Ramona, Calif.