Kaplan mulls options for improving East Hall

MIAMI – East Hall was enjoying a well-deserved day off Tuesday after returning home from a surprising one-length victory over Vicar’s in Trouble in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Indiana Derby. East Hall, who also won the Ohio Derby this summer, defeated an Indiana Derby field that included another 3-year-old based at Gulfstream Park, the previously undefeated Atreides, who finished a well-beaten sixth as the even-money favorite.

“I’m not surprised he was a longshot in Indiana, but I’m not totally surprised that he won,” said Bill Kaplan, who trains East Hall for owners Jack Hendricks and Roger Justice. “We’ve been trying to get this horse to race near the front for a few starts, but he drew bad posts the last two races, 10 in the [Super] Derby and 11 in Ohio, so we couldn’t do it.

“I expected Vicar’s in Trouble and Atreides to battle for the lead, so I told [Luis] Saez to get right up behind the two favorites and not let them get away from him. And when Atreides didn’t come out of the gate well, we wound up the one right behind Vicar’s in Trouble. I know my horse has a pretty huge kick in the stretch, so once they turned for home, I felt pretty comfortable that he’d be able to run down Vicar’s in Trouble, and he did.”

Kaplan said he is looking at a number of options for East Hall’s next start, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“The distance of the Classic would be ideal, but we would have to battle the top horses in the nation, which means making a big jump in class for him, so I’d say it’s unlikely at this point,” Kaplan said. “I’ll discuss it with the owners. They’ve never had a horse in the Breeders’ Cup, so if they want to go, we’ll go. Otherwise, I have four or five different options that include keeping him with straight 3-year-olds either in the Discovery [Handicap] at Aqueduct or the Delta Mile. We could also stay at home for the Sunshine Millions Preview since the Sunshine Millions Classic in January at Gulfstream is one of our main goals next winter after he turns 4.”

Kaplan also was pleased with the performance of his 2-year-old filly Naval Command last Friday in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland, where she finished fifth, beaten just four lengths, after racing in close proximity to a very lively pace.

“The pace of the race was fast, and the four horses racing right in front of us early all finished in the back of the pack. She ran by them all,” Kaplan said. “The quality is there with this filly. The way the race shook out made all the difference and might have compromised her a little bit.”

Kaplan said he also has several options for Naval Command.

“We could leave her here for the Sunshine Millions Preview or take her to Delta Downs,” Kaplan said. “There’s a very slight chance we could even go to the Breeders’ Cup, but it’s doubtful she’d get in if the race overfills. She’s a stakes winner but has no graded stakes points. Right now, we’re pondering all the different possibilities and will wait until she goes back to the track before making a final decision.”

Little Mike back on track

Little Mike, the winner of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Turf, returned to the track for the first time in several months Monday, with owner-trainer Carlo Vaccarezza eyeing a 2015 campaign for his multiple Grade 1 winner. Little Mike made just one start this season, winning the Flying Pidgeon Stakes here May 17.

“Looking at him out there this morning, you wouldn’t believe he hasn’t been to the track in months,” Vaccarezza said. “Right now, we’ll let him jog alongside the pony for a week or so before gradually allowing him to do more. All that time off really did him good, and I’m expecting him to have another big year in 2015.”

Little Mike, who will be 8 in 2015, has earned more than $3.5 million for Vaccarezza and his wife, Priscilla, with 14 victories from 29 career starts.