Medina Spirit giving right signs leading up to Pennsylvania Derby
DEL MAR, Calif. – Medina Spirit, preparing for a scheduled start in the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 25, worked six furlongs in 1:11.80 on Friday morning at Del Mar, looking as though he has emerged well from his victory last month here in the Shared Belief.
The Shared Belief was the first start for Medina Spirit since he finished third in the Preakness, that following his now-jeopardized first-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. On Friday, in what is likely his penultimate work for the 1 1/8-mile Pennsylvania Derby, Medina Spirit went along in company under exercise rider Juan Ochoa before galloping out strongly around the clubhouse turn while working after a renovation break.
An unusual, brief summer storm pelted this area on Thursday night, leaving the main track tighter than usual for a final day of training on Friday before horses have to vacate the premises. Combined with the few horses remaining here, with most already decamped to Santa Anita, conditions were ideal for the 24 horses who posted drills.
“It’s nice to work a horse on a track that has some bounce to it,” said Bob Baffert, who worked Medina Spirit and a dozen other horses from his barn. “That work was perfect for him.”
Medina Spirit “looks good right now,” according to Baffert, who said Medina Spirit would have one drill next weekend at Santa Anita before heading to Parx.
Joining Medina Spirit for Baffert on that Sept. 25 card at Parx will be the 3-year-old filly Private Mission, who worked a solo six furlongs, also under Ochoa, in 1:11.40 before the lone renovation break of the morning. Private Mission, slated for the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at 1 1/16 miles, is coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes.
The 2-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt Rockefeller, a winner on debut Aug. 28, worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 and is a candidate for the Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah on Oct. 1, opening day of Santa Anita’s fall meeting.
“That’s a darned good horse right there,” Baffert said as Rockefeller galloped out.
As Time Goes By, most recently sixth in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga but a two-time Grade 2 winner at Santa Anita earlier this year, could be in play for the Grade 2, $200,000 Zenyatta for older females at Santa Anita on Oct. 3 after working five furlongs in 59.40 seconds.
Eight Rings, fourth most recently in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien going seven furlongs, worked five furlongs in 59 seconds, the fastest time of a dozen at the distance. He could shorten up to six furlongs for the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 2.
Trainer Bob Hess Jr. worked the veteran sprinter Chaos Theory five furlongs in 1:02.60. He has not raced since finishing fifth in the Chamberlain Bridge, which was rained off the turf on May 31 at Lone Star.
Shore Break, a 3-year-old turf filly who has won two of her last three starts for Neil Drysdale, worked five furlongs in 1:02.40. If she cuts back in distance to 6 1/2 furlongs, the $75,000 Unzip Me at Santa Anita Oct. 3 would be an option.