Nero, Ax Man ready for next stakes starts

ARCADIA, Calif. – Nero, second in the San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 10, and Ax Man, fourth as the favorite in that race, both had easy half-mile drills Thursday as they ready for their next starts, which could come out of town, trainer Bob Baffert said.

“I’m going to nominate a bunch of horses to a bunch of races and take a look,” he said. “They’ll be nominated everywhere.”

One race that could be tempting for both is the Gotham Stakes on March 10 at Aqueduct since it is a one-turn mile and neither colt has yet to run two turns. Kanthaka, the San Vicente winner, is scheduled to go to the Gotham for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Nero worked his half-mile in 48 seconds, while Ax Man was timed in 49.40.

Two reappointed to CHRB

Madeline Auerbach and Alex Solis have been reappointed to four-year terms with the California Horse Racing Board, it was announced this week. Both were reappointed by Gov. Jerry Brown. Reappointment requires state Senate confirmation, but that is pretty much a formality.

Auerbach, a prominent owner and breeder in California, has been on the board since 2014. She is a co-owner of Majestic Heat, who heads the field Sunday in the Spring Fever Stakes at Santa Anita. She also is very active in working with associations that retrain Thoroughbreds for post-racing careers, most notably CARMA, which she founded.

Solis, a former jockey who was voted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2014, has been a board member since 2015, when he was still riding.