Hollendorfer mulls options for Sahara Sky

Sahara Sky, the winner of the 2013 Metropolitan Handicap, worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 on Friday, leaving co-owner and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer to make a decision this weekend on the next start for the multiple stakes winner.

Hollendorfer said he is deciding between the $1.25 million Met Mile at Belmont Park next Saturday, or waiting for the $300,000 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on June 28.

“I’m still on the fence,” Hollendorfer said. “I don’t have an answer yet.”

Sahara Sky, co-owned by Kim Lloyd, has won 8 of 20 starts and earned $1,145,328. A four-time stakes winner, Sahara Sky was seventh in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on May 3.

Hollendorfer said Shared Belief, the champion 2-year-old male of 2013, is a candidate for the $500,000 Los Alamitos Derby on July 5 after winning his 2014 debut in an allowance race last Monday at Golden Gate. Shared Belief missed training time earlier this year because of foot issues.

The Grade 2 Los Alamitos Derby is run at 1 1/8 miles, and is the main dirt track race for 3-year-olds in California this summer. The race was previously run as the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park, which closed last December.