Long Hot Summer resumes career
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
ARCADIA, Calif. – Long Hot Summer was two starts into a promising career last fall when she was sidelined by a minor injury.
“She had a hind-end issue,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “It was right around the time of the Breeders’ Cup preps and it took a long time to get it right.”
Long Hot Summer did not require surgery, D’Amato said. She resumed serious training in December and will make her first start since August in an optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on Thursday.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Long Hot Summer. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 6-4-1-0 with a $5.93 ROI over the past two years going synthetic to dirt with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
The 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer will be the first start for Long Hot Summer outside of the California-bred division. She won the Generous Portion Stakes at six furlongs last summer. The optional claimer is the featured race on an eight-race program which includes an optional claimer for fillies and mares at a mile on turf.
SEVENTH RACE
Key contenders
Long Hot Summer (Beyers: 81-56)
◗ D’Amato said he has seen physical changes in Long Hot Summer since last fall.
“She’s developed and gotten bigger and stronger,” D’Amato said. “She’s looks like an improving filly.”
◗ Long Hot Summer drew the rail in the field of eight, but D’Amato said Long Hot Summer should not be hindered by an inside draw.
“She comes from behind, so I don’t see it as that big of an issue,” he said. “I expect her to be ready to win.”
Fantastic Style (Beyers: 93-83)
◗ Fantastic Style was a highly impressive three-length winner of a six-furlong maiden race on Jan. 19, leading throughout at 2-5.
◗ Trained by Bob Baffert, Fantastic Style will be favored to win again on Thursday, and has a series of recent workouts that are encouraging. On Feb. 17, Fantastic Style worked six furlongs in 1:12.60, the fastest of six works at the distance.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Fantastic Style. Trainer Bob Baffert is 24-6-3-2 with a $0.98 ROI over the past two years in dirt sprints with last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Bad Ju Ju (Last 3 Beyers: 72-81-42)
◗ Bad Ju Ju beat California-bred maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on Dec. 5 in her second start, and returned to win an optional claimer for California-breds at six furlongs here on Jan. 29. In both races she led throughout on a moderate pace.
◗ Trainer Mike Machowsky said earlier this week that Thursday’s race is a prep for the $200,000 Evening Jewel Stakes for California-bred 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 4.
Majestic Presence (Last 3 Beyers: 73-83-80)
◗ Majestic Presence was fourth in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes on Jan. 31, her fifth consecutive loss in a stakes around two turns. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Thursday’s sprint is an experiment.
“She may end up being a late-running sprinter,” he said. “We want to try this sprint and see if we’re right on that.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Majestic Presence. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is 17-2-2-4 with a $0.45 ROI over the past five years taking blinkers off in sprints (11-0-0-3 in Southern California). Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
THIRD RACE
Key contenders
Elektrum (Beyer: 84)
◗ Elektrum won two allowance races in France last year and was third in a minor stakes at Longchamp at about 1 1/2 miles on turf last July. In her American debut, Elektrum finished a fast-closing second in an optional claimer at a mile after a slow start.
◗ The distance of Thursday’s race is a concern to trainer John Sadler.
“It might be a little short for her, but she’s doing well,” Sadler said. “We think we’ve got a nice prospect. I want to run her longer.”
Aguafria (Last 3 Beyers: 84-70-84)
◗ Aguafria was third behind Elektrum on Feb. 1, closing from seventh of eight to finish a half-length behind race winner Gender Agenda. Aguafria was stakes-placed in France last year. This will be her sixth start for trainer Neil Drysdale.