Forbidden Kingdom works six furlongs; being pointed to Sprint Championship

Trainer Richard Mandella plans to start the 3-year-old Forbidden Kingdom in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs on Oct. 1.

Unraced since a last-place finish of six in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April, Forbidden Kingdom worked six furlongs in 1:12 at Santa Anita on Friday. The time was much quicker than a six-furlong workout in 1:14.40 on Sept. 17.

Mandella said that Forbidden Kingdom had a warm foot for a few days after the Sept. 17 workout, but that the colt recovered quickly.

Friday’s workout left Mandella hopeful Forbidden Kingdom can be competitive in the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship.

“He went really nice,” he said. “It’s the same thing we’ve always seen. He’s fast.”

Forbidden Kingdom was diagnosed with a swollen throat after the Santa Anita Derby that ended hopes of a start in the Triple Crown. His return was further delayed by a bout with colic in June.

There were other notable workouts on Friday for upcoming stakes.

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The Mandella-trained Ice Dancing, a maiden who was third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 10, worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds for the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 8.

Heywoods Beach, the winner of the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Del Mar on July 24, worked six furlongs in 1:13.40 for the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles on Oct. 2.

Skinner, third in the Del Mar Futurity for trainer John Shirreffs, worked five furlongs in 1:02 for a potential start in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 8.

Bob Baffert worked two prominent juveniles.

Hejazi, purchased for $3.55 million earlier this year at a 2-year-olds in-training sale, worked six furlongs in 1:13.20, while Newgate, fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 10, was timed in 1:13.40 for the same distance.

Hejazi has been second in two maiden special weight races.

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