Irish Surf, two others ending lengthy layoffs

ARCADIA, Calif. – Irish Surf has not raced since the 2014 Thanksgiving weekend, when he finished sixth in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar. Two injuries led to layoffs that will end with an appearance in a competitive optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Thursday.

“We gave him a break, and he got cast in his stall,” trainer Dan Hendricks said last weekend. “He had a setback on the farm, and it took forever, it seems, to bring him around.”

Irish Surf is not the only runner in the field returning from a lengthy rest. Big John B will have his first start since a win in the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup last April. Farhaan, fourth in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga last summer, has not raced since September.

Those three are part of a field of seven in which the other four runners – Conquest Daddyo, Gustnado, Prospect Park, and Wanstead Gardens – also are capable of winning.

Prospect Park, who won the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds on turf at Del Mar in 2015, was second by a neck in an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf Feb. 5. He is likely to be favored off that performance.

“He may not have been 100 percent last time, but the race has done him some good,” trainer Clifford Sise Jr. said. “He doesn’t have that killer instinct sometimes.”

Hendricks has realistic expectations for Irish Surf, a 7-year-old horse who races for Gainesway Stable and Thor-Bred Stable. Thursday’s race could lead to appearances in marathon turf stakes in the coming months.

“I’m hoping for a good run,” Hendricks said. “He wants to run all day. This will set him up for the long-distance races.”

Phil D’Amato trains Big John B and Farhaan, both 8-year-olds.

“This will be the only time they’ll run together,” D’Amato said. “Big John B wants to run a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half. Farhaan is more of a miler.”

D’Amato is hoping to start Big John B in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf March 25 or the Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles on dirt April 2. Wednesday’s race may be too short, he said.

“The question is the mile and an eighth,” D’Amato said. “He’s fit and happy. This will be a good race to kick off the year.”

Big John B was sidelined last year with hind-end issues, D’Amato said. Farhaan, previously trained by Carlos Martin, was ill earlier this winter but recovered to work consistently through February.

“He got sick on me a little bit, and I backed off,” D’Amato said. “This should be a good race for him.”