Quick Enough earns his way into Turf Sprint picture

A $40,000 claimer in August, Quick Enough has proven good enough in recent starts to go to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 6 following his victory in Monday's $100,000 Morvich Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Quick Enough had an ideal trip in the Grade 3 Morvich over six furlongs on turf, stalking pacesetter Lt. Hopeful to early stretch and outfinishing Dilemma to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The Morvich was part of the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In program, assuring an automatic berth to the winner for the BC Turf Sprint, subject to the payment of entry fees.

For Quick Enough, the entry fees are high.

Quick Enough would need to be nominated to the BC program for $100,000 to be eligible for entry and starter fees, trainer Doug O'Neill said. Partners Michael Bello, Russ Sarno and Pablo Suarez may be willing to spend that much to nominate the 6-year-old gelding to the $1 million turf race over five furlongs.

"It's a strong possibility," O'Neill said. "He's such a cool horse. He's very game and brings it every time."

In the Morvich, Quick Enough ($7.60) ran six furlongs on turf in 1:08.42 under jockey Patrick Valenzuela. Scenic Blast, the 8-5 favorite and a Group 1 winner in England and Australia last year, finished third.

For Valenzuela, the Morvich was his first stakes win of the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting and his first stakes win at any Oak Tree meeting since 2006. He was injured in 2007 and was not licensed in California in 2008 and 2009 because of a violation of his conditional license issued in late 2007. Valenzuela resumed riding in California in July of this year.

Quick Enough was claimed for $40,000 at Del Mar on Aug. 5, a day he won an optional claimer over five furlongs on turf. In his first start for his current owners and trainer, Quick Enough was a troubled second in the Green Flash Handicap over five furlongs on turf on Aug. 18.

A California-bred by High Brite, Quick Enough has won 7 of 14 starts and $276,120.