Firing Line works briskly for Harry Brubaker Stakes

Firing Line and Melatonin, two leading older horses who will not start in Saturday’s $1 million Pacific Classic, are in training for races later this month at Del Mar and at Santa Anita in October.

Firing Line, second in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 59 seconds at Del Mar on Wednesday. He is a candidate for the $75,000 Harry Brubaker Stakes at a mile Aug. 24. Owned by Arnold Zetcher, Firing Line has started once this year, finishing fifth of six in an optional claimer July 9 at Santa Anita.

Firing Line emerged from that race with an illness, trainer Simon Callaghan said. There were no lingering concern about Firing Line’s condition following Wednesday’s workout. Callaghan timed Firing Line galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.40.

“It’s nice to see him do it the way he did it,” Callaghan said.

Melatonin won the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap in March and the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 25. He was declared from the Pacific Classic because of an illness earlier this month, but jogged on the main track Wednesday.

Melatonin is a candidate for the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes on Oct. 1 at Santa Anita. Melatonin races for Susan Osborne and is trained by David Hofmans.