Gormley, Mastery tune up for possible clash in San Felipe

Gormley and Mastery, both Grade 1 winners and two of the top 3-year-olds in California, both worked six furlongs on Monday at Santa Anita, and they could face one another in the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 11.

Gormley, with regular rider Victor Espinoza up, was timed in 1:11, the fastest time of 14 at the distance. Mastery was timed in 1:15.

John Shirreffs has both Gormley and Royal Mo under consideration for the San Felipe. He said one would run there, the other in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 18, but he hasn’t made a decision as to who goes where just yet.

“I’m going to wait and decide at the last minute,” Shirreffs said. “Just see how they’re doing, who wants to fly cross-country.”

Both Gormley, who won the FrontRunner last fall, and Royal Mo are owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and ridden by Espinoza.

Shirreffs said Gormley’s work Monday was “really good.”

Mastery, the winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity in his last start, is definite for the San Felipe. Trainer Bob Baffert said Mastery is set for his first start of the year.

“He’s ready. He’s been ready,” Baffert said. “This was just a maintenance three-quarters. He’ll work once more before the race.”