O'Neill juveniles showing potential

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Doug O’Neill is wasting no time showcasing his juveniles at Santa Anita this spring.

On May 1, the O’Neill-trained Wake Up Nick won a maiden race over 4 1/2 furlongs in his debut. He is a candidate for the $125,000 Santa Anita Juvenile over 5 1/2 furlongs on June 22. Wake Up Nick could be joined in that race by stablemates Sky Preacher or Henry’s Holiday, pending the results of Friday’s first race.

Sky Preacher and Henry’s Holiday are two of the six juveniles entered in a $56,000 maiden race over 4 1/2 furlongs. Sky Preacher has the stable’s better chance at winning, O’Neill said.

“Sky Preacher looks like a stakes horse,” he said.

Both Sky Preacher and Henry’s Holiday are owned by Success Racing. Sky Preacher, by Sky Mesa, was purchased for $52,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. Henry’s Holiday, by Harlan’s Holiday, was purchased for $115,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s sale of 2-year-olds in training this past March.

O’Neill said Sky Preacher and Henry’s Holiday worked together Monday, going three furlongs in 36 seconds from the gate, which equaled the fastest of 25 works at the distance.

“Sky Preacher shows more in the morning,” O’Neill said. “Henry’s Holiday looks more like a synthetic or a turf horse in my mind.”

The field comprises three colts and three fillies. Soul Crusader, a filly by Fusaichi Pegasus, has recorded fast workouts at Los Alamitos in recent weeks for trainer Rafael DeLeon. Soul Crusader is out of Michigan Bluff, who won the Grade 3 Hillsborough Handicap at Bay Meadows in 2000 in her 45th and final career start.

Wake Up Nick has returned to racetrack training, O’Neill said. The colt is owned by Paul Reddam and O’Neill’s brother, Dennis.

“Wake Up Nick could be our best one,” Doug O’Neill said. “I don’t know how far he’ll go, but there is nothing he shows in the morning that says he’s limited.”