Hit the Road eyes return in July at Del Mar
Hit the Road, briefly sidelined by a muscle strain earlier this spring, has resumed training for an expected start at the Del Mar summer meeting.
Hit the Road won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 6 and was fifth in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland on April 9. Trainer Dan Blacker said Sunday that Hit the Road has progressed in recent weeks for a return to racing as early as next month.
“We’ll get back on the work tab soon,” Blacker said.
Blacker said the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 21 is a long-range goal, with the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on July 24 as a “possible” start.
“We’ll see how he does,” Blacker said.
A 4-year-old, Hit the Road has won 6 of 10 starts and has earned $503,751.
The Del Mar summer meeting runs from July 16 to Sept. 6. The current Santa Anita meeting ends on June 20, followed by the Los Alamitos summer meeting from June 25 to July 5.