Om returns in loaded San Pedro field
ARCADIA, Calif. – The hype surrounding Om at Del Mar last summer was short-lived. Om, then 2, was the electrifying winner of a maiden race in early August but did not run again in 2014.
Two horses Om beat in that maiden race began this weekend as Kentucky Derby hopefuls – One Lucky Dane and American Pharoah.
Om will not be in that race. He will have his 3-year-old debut in Sunday’s $75,000 San Pedro Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita.
“We just want to get him back racing,” trainer Dan Hendricks said this week. “We have all year.”
The San Pedro drew a solid field of nine 3-year-olds, some who are late developers and four who were nominated for the Triple Crown but did not fare well in the preps for those elite races. The race could produce important runners for the 3-year-old races later this year.
:: DRF Live: Get real-time updates and insights from DRF reporters and handicappers on Sunday
Seven runners will have their stakes debuts in the San Pedro, including Om; Yiannis, who won a maiden race here in January; The Man, trained by Bob Baffert; and Kentuckian, the fast winner of a maiden race at Golden Gate Fields last month for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
“It’s a salty race, and a lot of horses have run recently,” Hendricks said.
KEY CONTENDERS
Om (Beyers: 98-40)
◗ Om was found to have inflammation in a hind leg last summer, which led to his rest, Hendricks said.
“He hasn’t shown any signs of it since,” Hendricks said. “He’s come back more mature. He was very immature mentally and physically.”
◗ Om has worked steadily, including six furlongs in 1:11.80 from the gate March 28.
“I haven’t been disappointed in any works,” Hendricks said.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Om. Trainer Dan Hendricks is 37-1-6-5 with a $0.10 ROI over the past five years with all runners returning from a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
◗ Fernando Perez was aboard Om for his 7 1/4-length win last August. Perez has the mount again Sunday.
◗ The race will help Hendricks and owner K.B. Sareen plan how to proceed this spring with Om.
“I don’t know if he’s dirt, short, or long,” Hendricks said.
Kentuckian (Beyer: 90)
◗ By Tiznow, Kentuckian won his debut by 11 lengths in a six-furlong race at Golden Gate Fields on March 7. He led throughout and was in command in early stretch. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.
“Anyone would be surprised by a horse winning by 11 lengths,” Hollendorfer said. “He did run very fast.”
Well Maybe (Last 3 Beyers: 88-88-52)
◗ After finishing sixth in his debut last September, Well Maybe has won both of his subsequent starts. Trained by Art Sherman, Well Maybe won a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs Jan. 3 at 40-1 and an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs Feb. 21, both at Santa Anita.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Yiannis. Victorious in his debut on Jan. 30, beating two horses that won their next starts in maiden special weights, with Beyer Speed Figures of 84 and 86. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan