The Pizza Man questionable for Hollywood Turf Cup

STICKNEY, Ill. – The Pizza Man’s trip to Southern California this month is not developing as planned, and the relocation of his trainer Roger Brueggemann’s stable to there has also been put on hold.

The Pizza Man, who worked a half-mile at Hawthorne on Nov. 9 in 49.40 seconds, has for several weeks been pointed to the Hollywood Turf Cup on Nov. 25 at Del Mar, a race he decisively won in 2015. His connections, Brueggemann and owner Midwest Thoroughbreds, still would like to run in the race, but transportation has become an issue.

Rich Papiese, Midwest’s principal, said there’s a flight The Pizza Man could take to California on Nov. 20. That’s closer to the race than Papiese would prefer, but the larger problem is getting The Pizza Man back home.

“As of right now, they have no idea when he’d be coming back,” Papiese said. “Roger’s not crazy about leaving him out there for a couple weeks.”

Papiese said The Pizza Man has been nominated as a backup option to the $100,000 River City Handicap on Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs.

Meanwhile, plans for Papiese and Brueggemann to open a Southern California string this winter are on hold. Papiese said Brueggemann will soon head to Fair Grounds with a 25-horse string.

“After Fair Grounds, we’ll see about Roger going out to California,” Papiese said.

Midwest and Brueggemann on Nov. 5 debuted a promising 2-year-old filly, She’s Taken, who won a six-furlong maiden race by almost five lengths; she was assigned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure. She’s Taken, who cost $200,000 at auction, is by City Zip and out of the Out of Place mare Flor de Oro.