Midnight Hawk, Lord Nelson on way back

DEL MAR, Calif. – A pair of Bob Baffert-trained stakes winners are nearing returns to action. Midnight Hawk, who won the 2014 Sham Stakes, worked seven furlongs from the gate at Santa Anita in 1:27.40 on Thursday as he nears his first start since March, when he finished second in the Razorback at Oaklawn Park.

Baffert said Midnight Hawk is very close to running.

Lord Nelson, who has not run since finishing fourth in the Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard, is farther away from a start. He worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds on Thursday, “just his second half since coming back,” Baffert said.

“He needed time off to freshen up,” Baffert said.

Lord Nelson won the San Vicente Stakes earlier this year.

◗ Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has won 6,996 races through Thursday. With runners at both Del Mar and Golden Gate on the weekend, he could get to 7,000 by Sunday night. He would be only the third trainer to reach that mark, preceded by Dale Baird and Steve Asmussen.

◗ Bobbi Kellogg, a longtime, popular employee in Santa Anita’s gift shop, died this month at age 88. Kellogg worked at Champions!, Santa Anita’s gift shop, for more than 30 years. She retired in July.