Hollywood Park: Warren's Amber targets B. Thoughtful Stakes

Warren’s Amber, the winner of the Evening Jewel Stakes at Santa Anita in 2012, has had five workouts in recent weeks, preparing for an expected 2013 debut in the $125,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on Saturday.

For some trainers, five workouts would not be enough to have a 4-year-old filly ready for the B. Thoughtful, which is run over 7 1/2 furlongs for California-bred fillies and mares. But trainer Jorge Gutierrez thinks Warren’s Amber has gained enough from the workouts, and he is willing to try the race with the filly, owned and bred by Ben Warren.

“She might be a little short, but she is a late-running sprinter,” he said. “Where else am I going to go?”

Warren’s Amber has not started since a ninth-place finish in an allowance race at Santa Anita last November.

After winning the Evening Jewel for 3-year-old fillies over 6 1/2 furlongs in March 2012, Warren’s Amber started in five more stakes in 2012, finishing third in the Campanile Stakes over a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields in June and second in the Fleet Treat Stakes over seven furlongs at Del Mar in August.

Gutierrez will be a busy trainer in the paddock before the B. Thoughtful. He has four nominees to the race owned and bred by Warren – Warren’s Blossom, Warren’s Gussie and Warren’s Internet – and all but Warren’s Gussie may run.

The B. Thoughtful is one of four races worth $125,000 or more on Saturday’s California Gold Rush program at Hollywood Park. The race is expected to include Bench Glory, the winner of the Irish O’Brien Stakes for California-breds at Santa Anita in March.

The $300,000 Snow Chief Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles is the top race on the program. Tiz a Minister, fourth in the Santa Anita Derby, heads the nominations.

Unusual Way, second to Kentucky Oaks hopeful Midnight Lucky in the Sunland Park Oaks on March 24, is a leading contender in the $250,000 Melair Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/16 miles.

The $125,000 Tiznow Stakes over 7 1/2 furlongs will mark the stakes debut of Mel’s Game, who won three consecutive races at Santa Anita during the winter-spring meeting that ended Sunday.