Little Alexis eyes La Brea start

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Carlo Vaccarezza said he is considering sending Little Alexis back to Santa Anita to close out her 3-year-old campaign in the Grade 1 La Brea on Dec. 26. Little Alexis finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, immediately after which she had a severe reaction at the site of an injection she’d received a day earlier to administer a vitamin jug.

Little Alexis worked for the first time since the Breeders’ Cup on Sunday at Gulfstream Park, going an easy three furlongs in 36.20 seconds.

“She scoped out fine last week, but we were still concerned about how she’d handle things when put to the stress of a workout, and everything went great the other morning,” said Vaccarezza. “But we’ll put the pedal to the metal a little more this weekend and make sure all is well. Keeping her here for the Sugar Swirl was also a consideration, but the La Brea gives me an extra two weeks to get her ready, which I think would be to her benefit.”

◗ Tuesday’s work tab was a busy one at Gulfstream topped by Grade 1 winner Imagining (three furlongs in 34.28 seconds), Csaba (four furlongs in 48.53), and Merry Meadow (four furlongs in 47.20). Merry Meadow will make her next start in the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl on Dec. 13, while the $100,000 Harlan’s Holiday that same day could be next for Csaba.