Hollywood Park: Silentio calms down as he prepares for Citation

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – A day after dumping his rider and getting loose when scheduled to work, Silentio behaved much better on Saturday morning at Betfair Hollywood Park, turning in a drill that encouraged his trainer, Gary Mandella, to believe he was on course for the Citation Handicap later this month following an outstanding effort last time out in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Silentio on Friday was supposed to go six furlongs under jockey Rafael Bejarano, but he dumped Bejarano and ran loose on the track before being corralled by an outrider.

“I was up in the stands hyperventilating,” Mandella said Saturday morning. “The outriders did a great job. As loose horses go, it turned out to be very uneventful.”

Silentio marched back to the track on Saturday morning and went six furlongs on Cushion Track in 1:13.40 on Mandella’s watch. The work combined with the enthusiasm Silento showed on Friday are indications Silentio is doing well, Mandella said.

“I’m hoping all that is a sign he’s feeling good,” Mandella said. “Obviously he didn’t get too tired in the Breeders’ Cup. I’m very happy with how he’s doing. He’s maintaining his weight.”

Silentio was third, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths by Wise Dan, in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. If he continues to do well, Silentio will run in the Grade 2, $250,000 Citation here on Nov. 29, a race that is also expected to lure BC Mile runner-up Za Approval.

Mandella also worked his stakes-class sprinter No Silent on Saturday in preparation for the $100,000 Hollywood Turf Express on Dec. 8. Mandella had him going six furlongs in 1:15. No Silent will be returning to the turf after making his last start on Polytrack at Del Mar in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien.

“He’s always run well in turf sprints here, so after the Pat O’Brien we decided, with Hollywood closing, we better take a serious shot while we’re here,” Mandella said. “That’s why we skipped running him at Santa Anita. The time today wasn’t that great because he doesn’t work very well on the main track. I’ll breeze him on the turf next Sunday.”

San Onofre earns 98 Beyer

Trainer Karen Headley and her father, Bruce, have always had high hopes for San Onofre, and he showed why on Friday with a spectacular win against maidens, romping by 10 1/2 lengths in 1:09.35 for six furlongs while earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

San Onofre had not raced since Dec. 31, when he finished second against maidens at Santa Anita. Now age 3, San Onofre, a homebred gelding, is by the Headleys’ sire Surf Cat.

“How awesome was that horse?” Karen Headley said Saturday morning. “We knew he could run since before his race last December. He got hurt after that race, and you know how Dad is, he wanted to turn him out and give him time. He can be a tough one to train, but when he gets in the gate, he’s very business-like. He didn’t want to go in the gate, but once he did, he was all business.”

Mike Smith was aboard San Onofre. Headley said she had Smith work San Onofre in preparation for Friday’s race because “he’s quirky.”

“He likes to shake his head,” Headley said. “I just wanted to make sure Mike knew what he was riding.”

Headley said San Onofre is a “refined” version of Kona Gold, the champion sprinter trained by her father.

Headley, like her father, prefers a conservative approach with her horses, so an allowance race is likely next for San Onofre.