O'Neill aiming at Sanford with impressive maiden winner Pocket Listing
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Pocket Listing, an easy winner of his debut at Santa Anita on June 14, is bound for the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga on July 4, pending a workout this weekend.
Trainer Doug O’Neill said on Thursday that Pocket Listing needs a satisfactory workout on Sunday to justify the trip. The $225,000 Sanford Stakes is run at six furlongs and is the first stakes of the year for 2-year-olds on the New York circuit.
“We’re going to see how he works,” O’Neill said.
Pocket Listing, a colt by Listing, races for owners and breeders Paul and Zillah Reddam.
On June 14, Pocket Listing was the 1-2 favorite in a field of eight in a five-furlong maiden race. Pocket Listing ran to expectations. Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Pocket Listing took the lead shortly after the start and won by 8 1/2 lengths despite ducking to the inside in early stretch.
Pocket Listing led by 10 lengths in the stretch.
“I looked back and I couldn’t believe how far in front I was,” Fresu said after the win. “I looked back again and I thought, This is nice. He has a lot of promise.”
Pocket Listing is a half-brother to two stakes winners for the Reddams – Don’t Sell, who earned $261,760, and How About Zero, who earned $349,640.
“From the word go, he’s demonstrated above average ability,” O’Neill said. “He can in with high regards.”
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