Mackinnon could train up to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf
Mackinnon won his stakes debut in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 6 and could have his next start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.
Trainer Doug O’Neill said forthcoming workouts will determine whether Mackinnon starts in the $200,000 Zuma Beach Stakes at a mile on turf on Oct. 3 at Santa Anita or is trained toward the BC Juvenile Turf.
“We’ve got options,” O’Neill said. “The more time in between races the better. It’s a strong temptation to wait, but if he’s coming out of his skin we’ll have to consider” the Zuma Beach.
O’Neill said he plans to start Miss Bellatrix in the $200,000 Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf on Oct. 3, even though she finished ninth of 11 in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 5 . The Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf was her first start since a maiden race win on turf in June.
The Surfer Girl Stakes is Miss Bellatrix’s last chance to earn a spot in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.
“She didn’t fire,” O’Neill said of Miss Bellatrix’s effort in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf. “It was such a long gap between the maiden win and the race at Del Mar. I didn’t have her cranked.”