Fed Biz eyes Pat O’Brien or Forego stakes next
DEL MAR, Calif. – Fed Biz loves the Polytrack at Del Mar. But trainer Bob Baffert would like to add a Grade 1 race to his résumé. And therein lays the dilemma with which Baffert will wrestle over the next few days.
Fed Biz worked sharply Monday at Del Mar, going six furlongs in company in 1:11.40 under jockey Martin Garcia. The time was the best of eight at the distance. Fed Biz could stay here and defend his title Sunday in the Grade 2, $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes. Or he could head to Saratoga and run on dirt, but in a Grade 1 race, in the Forego on Aug. 30. Both are at seven furlongs.
“He loves this track,” Baffert said Monday after Fed Biz worked. “If this race was a Grade 1, it would be a no-brainer. It’s either going to be this or the Forego.”
The O’Brien is shaping up as a strong race. Big Macher and Goldencents, first and second in last month’s Bing Crosby at six furlongs, head the prospective field. Goldencents was second to Fed Biz in this race last year. On Sunday, Goldencents worked six furlongs in 1:11.80 for trainer Doug O’Neill.
Others expected for the O’Brien include Color of Courage and Silentio.
Silentio worked four furlongs in 48 seconds Sunday for trainer Gary Mandella. Color of Courage worked five furlongs Monday in 1:00 for Richard Mandella.
Slapshot Man debuts for O’Neill
Slapshot Man, co-owned by and named in honor of defenseman Erik Johnson of the Colorado Avalanche, makes his debut in the second race Wednesday. He is trained by O'Neill.
Slapshot Man, a colt by Cool Coal Man, was purchased at a sale of 2-year-olds in training in Ocala, Fla., this year for $35,000. He debuts in a $62,500 maiden-claiming race.
Johnson, 26, was part of the U.S. Olympic hockey team that earned a silver medal in 2010 in Vancouver. Johnson scored nine goals and had 30 assists last season for the Avalanche.