Fore Left has good work in blinkers for Del Mar Futurity

DEL MAR, Calif. – Fore Left, who was third in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 10, worked five furlongs from the gate in 1:01.80 a little after 8 a.m. on Sunday.

The workout was not only designed to prepare Fore Left for the Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 2, but to give the promising runner a chance to work while wearing blinkers. The equipment will be added for the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs.

In the Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs, Fore Left was the 9-10 favorite and was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Collusion Illusion after racing within a length of the lead with a furlong remaining.

“I think it’s a focus thing,” trainer Doug O’Neill said of the blinkers. “He worked with them and worked well.”

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Fore Left won his first two starts, including an impressive win in the Tremont Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park on June 7.

O’Neill plans to have two runners in the Del Mar Futurity and Saturday’s Del Mar Debutante. Defense Wins, second to Collusion Illusion in a maiden race on July 21, will start in the Del Mar Futurity.

In the Del Mar Debutante, O’Neill will run Comical and Lazy Daisy. Comical won the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga on July 11, but was last of six in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes here on Aug. 3.

Lazy Daisy won a maiden race in her debut at six furlongs here on Aug. 3.

“She had a win on this track and looked great,” O’Neill said.