Miller has stakes in mind for Wrecking Crew

DEL MAR, Calif. – Wrecking Crew overcame a slow start to win his debut in a maiden special weight race at six furlongs at Del Mar on Saturday, a performance trainer Peter Miller said will lead to a stakes appearance later this meeting.

Miller said the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs on Aug. 10 will be considered, but that the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 2 “is the goal.”

Wrecking Crew broke slowly and was third on the backstretch. He rallied wide to take the lead in early stretch, leading by three lengths with a furlong remaining.

“Just the way we drew it up,” Miller said, with a sarcastic smile. “He broke terribly.”

Ridden by Flavien Prat for owners Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen, Wrecking Crew won by 1 3/4 lengths, finishing six furlongs in 1:12.22.

“He was very professional,” Miller said. “I was worried about him easing himself up. Flavien kept him busy enough.

“We’ll look at the Best Pal. We’ve got two weeks. That was kind of a training race in a sense. The futurity is the goal.”