Gormley will await San Felipe in March

ARCADIA, Calif. - Gormley is likely to have a nine-week gap between races after winning his 3-year-old debut by a head in a thrilling running of the $100,690 Sham Stakes at a mile on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Trainer John Shirreffs said on Sunday that he is leaning toward the $200,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 11 for Gormley’s next start. The Grade 2 San Felipe is a key prep for the $1 million Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on April 8.

“I would like to give him time,” Shirreffs said. “The San Felipe is a logical spot.

“It depends on the weather right now. It will have a lot to say about how much he gets to train.”

Training at Santa Anita has been disrupted by wet conditions in the last week. The Sham Stakes was run on a sealed and sloppy track. There is a possibility this could be a wet winter compared to dry recent years, which will force trainers to adjust schedules when the track is not open for training.

In the Grade 3 Sham, Gormley stalked pacesetter American Anthem to early stretch and fought for the lead through the final furlong before winning narrowly.

The Sham was Gormley’s third win in four starts for owners Jerry and Ann Moss. Gormley won a maiden race at Del Mar in September and the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes in October before finishing seventh of 11 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here on Nov. 5.

American Anthem had his stakes debut in the Sham, his second start. Trained by Bob Baffert, American Anthem won a six-furlong maiden race at Del Mar on Dec. 3.

American Anthem finished 13 lengths clear of third-place finisher Big Hit in the field of seven.

“He ran hard,” Baffert said. “I was impressed. Those are two top horses.”

Big Hit, a maiden race winner at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar in November in his third start, may run in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs on Feb. 12 or an allowance race around two turns in his next start, trainer Phil D’Amato said.

“We can try the big boys again in March,” D’Amato said. “He’s a big, good-looking horse. We’ve trying to mold him into the horse he can be.”