Return to dirt rejuvenates Story to Tell

ARCADIA, Calif. – Story to Tell had a fine start to his career until he started in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 3, finishing sixth.

“He didn’t like the track down there,” trainer Dan Hendricks said.

A return to training on dirt at Santa Anita in the last month has brightened Story to Tell, Hendricks said. The trainer has mapped a three-race autumn campaign that begins in Monday’s $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds at six furlongs.

Hendricks is hopeful Story to Tell can reproduced his form from May and June, when he beat maidens in his debut and finished second in the Santa Anita Juvenile. One difference since then is Santa Anita has replaced its main track since the summer, an issue that does not overly concern Hendricks.

“He’s come back to work great,” Hendricks said. “He seems to like this track. I know it’s not the exact track, but it’s close.”

In the Best Pal, Story to Tell was third early but faded to finish last of six, beaten 17 1/2 lengths on the Polytrack synthetic surface. The loss was preceded by a win in the Willard Proctor Memorial Stakes at Los Alamitos in July and put an end to Story to Tell’s Del Mar meeting. Owned by Cecil Peacock, Story to Tell has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $118,850.

After Monday’s race, Hendricks said he is willing to try Story to Tell again in the $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar before the Los Alamitos Futurity at 1 1/16 miles in December. The Bob Hope Stakes was formerly known as the Hollywood Prevue Stakes when run at Hollywood Park.