Haskell next for Came Home?

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Came Home came out of his victory in Sunday's Swaps Stakes in good condition, trainer Paco Gonzalez said on Tuesday morning, and though no decision has been reached on where Came Home will run next, Gonzalez said the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on Aug. 4 is among the possibilities.

Gonzalez said the Haskell is the preferred spot of John Toffan, who heads the partnership that owns Came Home. But Gonzalez cautioned that no decision will be reached for, he said, "a week to 10 days."

"He came out of the race really good," Gonzalez said from Santa Anita, where he is based. "I might have to jog him tomorrow. John wants to go to the Haskell, but it might be a little soon," Gonzalez added, pointing out that the Haskell is just three weeks after the Swaps.

If does go to the Haskell, his rivals would likely include War Emblem, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, who is scheduled to make his return in that race.

Regardless of where Came Home races next, he will be on the move soon. When the racing scene switches next week to Del Mar, only one Los Angeles-area track will remain open as an offsite training facility. This year, Santa Anita is closed, so Came Home, and the rest of Gonzalez's runners, will head to Hollywood Park.

Gonzalez said he preferred to stay at Hollywood Park, rather than go to Del Mar, because he has a number of 2-year-olds and wants to keep them at a facility that has less traffic.

Super Quercus topweight in Sunset

Super Quercus, who returned from a near eight-month layoff to win a classified allowance race on June 30, has been assigned topweight of 122 pounds for Sunday's $250,000 Sunset Handicap. The Grade 2, 1 1/2-mile grass race is the highlight of the closing-day card at Hollywood Park.

Although he has raced sporadically over the past year, Super Quercus has been consistent. In the Sunset, he will be shooting for his fourth straight victory, and he is coming off a powerful victory.

"I thought he ran super," trainer Bobby Frankel said of the June 30 race.

Super Quercus will be joined by his Frankel-trained stablemate Lord Flasheart, who finished third to Super Quercus on June 30 in his first start in five months. "He had a bunch of little things bother him. Too numerous to mention. It was never the same thing twice. It was always something new," Frankel said of the pint-sized Lord Flasheart, who was assigned 115 pounds. Alex Solis rides Super Quercus, with Patrick Valenzuela on Lord Flasheart.

Because Valenzuela opted for Lord Flasheart, trainer Ian Jory on Tuesday was shopping for a rider for his long-distance specialist, Continental Red.

"He's training really good right now," Jory said.

Another chance for Crowned Dancer

Crowned Dancer, a disappointing third in the Haggin Stakes in his last start, will try to make amends when he runs in Saturday's $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship for 2-year-olds.

"He got a 92 Beyer in his race before that," trainer Christopher Paasch said, referring to a victory in the Proctor Memorial, "and I think that knocked him out. Hopefully, he'll go back to his race before last. I backed off a little since his last race, then set him down in his last two works."

Paasch said he would add blinkers to Crowned Dancer's equipment on Saturday. "He's been training in them all week," he said.

Oberwald, the winner of the Haggin Stakes, is expected to head the field for the six-furlong Juvenile.

Saratoga next for Milwaukee Brew

Frankel said that Milwaukee Brew, who rallied belatedly for third in Sunday's Hollywood Gold Cup, would head to Saratoga for the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap. Frankel said he did not think Milwaukee Brew's style would be effective at Del Mar.

Frankel also said Milwaukee Brew ended up far back early in the Gold Cup because of "miscommunication between the jock and trainer."

"I'll take the blame," Frankel said. Kent Desormeaux rode Milwaukee Brew.

Opting out of Del Mar stables

For the first time since he went out on his own nearly 20 years ago, Ian Jory is opting to stay at Hollywood Park this summer, rather than ship his stable to Del Mar. A number of trainers are doing the same thing, citing rising costs for both housing and workmen's compensation, as well as the excessive horse traffic on the main course.

"I'm on a tight budget with workmen's comp," Jory said.

Neil Drysdale is among the other trainers who, like Jory, will stable at Hollywood Park this summer, and ship their horses to Del Mar for races.