Hit the Road, still recovering from illness, will wait for San Gabriel

The effects of an illness a few weeks ago will keep Hit the Road from racing this month, and instead he will wait for the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

The winner of the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf in March, Hit the Road was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 6 at Del Mar because of an elevated temperature. Trainer Dan Blacker briefly considered starting him in Saturday’s Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar.

Hit the Road has not had a workout since Oct. 31.

“We nominated for the Seabiscuit, but it was a longshot,” Blacker said.

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Hit the Road needed a workout last weekend to be considered for the Seabiscuit, but “wasn’t ready to breeze,” Blacker said.

“We’ll breeze this weekend and start gearing him toward the San Gabriel,” he said. “He’s back in full health.

“We’re going to try him at a mile and an eighth. He’s never run that far, but I don’t think it will be a problem. It’s a question of is he as good. There are a lot of options next year at 1 1/8 miles that would be fun to take a shot at.”

A four-time stakes winner, Hit the Road was rated as one of California’s leading chances in the BC Mile.

“I feel for the owners,” Blacker said. “We’d been gearing him for that race since he won the Kilroe. To get so close and have him doing so well and have to scratch was bitterly disappointing.

“We’ve got a sound, top-quality horse. With any luck we’ll be back there next year.”

Owned by DK Racing, Radley Equine, Taste of Victory Stables, Rick Gold, Tony Maslowski and Dave Odmark, Hit the Road has won 6 of 12 starts and earned $563,751.

The $250,000 Seabiscuit, run at 1 1/16 miles on turf, has seven candidates – Bob and Jackie, Field Pass, Flop Shot, Indian Peak, Lambeau, Majestic Eagle, and Sacred Life. Trainer Peter Miller said that Neptune’s Storm, winner of the Lure Stakes at Santa Anita in October, will be pointed to the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

“We’ll give him a little freshening,” Miller said.

The richest race on Saturday’s program is the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, a $400,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Del Mar racing officials expected at least 15 entrants as of Wednesday – Airman, Beyond Brilliant, Camp Hope, Cathkin Peak, Flashiest, Hudson Ridge, In Effect, It Can Be Done, Lincoln Hawk, Public Sector, Santin, Sifting Sands, Subconscious, Team Merchants and Zoffarelli.

The race will be limited to 14 runners.