Mullins in no rush with Tatters to Riches

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jeff Mullins was a bundle of nerves before Tatters to Riches won the Shared Belief on Saturday, but he was relieved the 3-year-old not only won the race but came out of it in good condition, and now the trainer will have plenty of time to map out a campaign focused on his 4-year-old year.

There will be starts before 2019, but nothing obvious at the moment. Tatters to Riches won his first time going two turns on Saturday, and Mullins believes that’s his future, but there are no stakes races on dirt exclusively for 3-year-olds at the fall Santa Anita meeting. The options include running against older horses, or moving to turf – neither ideal – so Mullins acknowledged “we might have to go out of town.”

Tatters to Riches was off for 11 months owing to a hind ankle fracture before winning his comeback earlier in the meet. He then came back in 21 days for the Shared Belief. He is now 3 for 4.

“I want to give him time to recover from this, get up to Santa Anita, get settled, and figure out where we’re at,” Mullins said.