Gulfstream Park: Trinniberg works for possible Dubai return

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Sprint champion Trinniberg took the first baby step toward defending his title this season when he worked an easy three furlongs in 38.13 seconds at Gulfstream Park on Tuesday. The work was the first for the reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner since he returned to training here last month.

Trainer Shivananda Parbhoo said that if all goes well, Trinniberg could make his 2013 debut March 30 in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. The Golden Shaheen is contested at six furlongs over the synthetic surface at Meydan.

“They sent us an invitation to the race, and I’ve accepted,” Parbhoo said. “I don’t think it will take that long to get him fit. He looked like he got a bit tired at the end of the work, but by the time he got back to the barn he was full of energy again. He still has four breezes left before we go over there, so we’ll see how he comes along. If he trains well, we’ll go to Dubai.”

Trinniberg, who was based at Calder in 2012, ventured briefly out of his element after winning both the Grade 3 Swale and Bay Shore to force the pace before fading to finish 17th in the Kentucky Derby. He then returned to doing what he does best, sprinting, winning the Grade 2 Woody Stephens and finishing second in the Grade 2 Carry Back before closing out the year with a game three-quarter-length triumph over The Lumber Guy in the BC Sprint.

Parbhoo said that if he does run Trinniberg in the Golden Shaheen, he’ll give him plenty of time off once he returns to the United States to recuperate from the trip.

“If we run in Dubai, he’ll have only two more starts the rest of the year, probably the Vosburgh and then the Breeders’ Cup,” Parbhoo said. “If we stay home, he’ll probably run three times before the Breeders’ Cup, in races like the Smile Sprint at Calder, the Vosburgh, and perhaps one other.”

Parbhoo is preparing Trinniberg for his return at Gulfstream rather than over a Calder surface he credited for much of the horse’s success last year.

“Calder is probably a little better track for him, but all my better horses and help are here at Gulfstream,” Parbhoo said. “And so far, he’s doing okay on this track. We can always go back to Calder if that changes. My main concern going to Dubai would be racing over the synthetic surface. He’s never raced or trained over it before, although he seems to handle everything well.”