Roy H regrouping after foot injury, likely to return this summer

ARCADIA, Calif. – Roy H, the two-time champion sprinter who missed the Group 1 Golden Shaheen Stakes in Dubai on March 30 because of a minor foot injury, has returned to trainer Peter Miller’s California stable.

Miller said on Wednesday that Roy H “looks good” but may not race again until the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on July 27.

“We haven’t really got a plan,” Miller said. “In theory, he shouldn’t be as tired as if he ran. The Bing Crosby could be our next start.”

Roy H and the other runners Miller sent to Dubai cleared quarantine a few days ago and are walking at his stable this week, he said.

Miller would prefer to keep Roy H at six furlongs. Several leading sprint stakes in coming months are run at 6 1/2 or seven furlongs.

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Owned by Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen, Roy H, 7, has won 10 of 23 starts and earned $3,139,765. Roy H has won the last two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint – at Del Mar in 2017 and Churchill Downs in 2018.

Roy H won his only start of the year in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 19 by an easy four lengths. Roy H was the leading contender for the six-furlong Golden Shaheen before being withdrawn in the days before the race.

Miller said that Belvoir Bay and Stormy Liberal, second and third in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai on March 30, are likely to run in the Grade 1 Jaipur Invitational at six furlongs on turf at Belmont Park on June 8.

Gray Magician, second in the Group 2 UAE Derby in Dubai on March 30, remains a candidate for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4.

“I think it’s a wide-open Derby,” Miller said. “If you’re going to give it a shot, this is the year to do so.”

Extra Hope getting a break

Extra Hope, fourth in a division of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park last month, has been taken out of training, trainer Richard Mandella said.

Extra Hope was considered for the Santa Anita Derby last Saturday, but Mandella did not enter the colt after he said he was unhappy with the way Extra Hope trained last week. Subsequent tests revealed no injuries.

“He’s got some bone bruising,” Mandella said. “He needs a little break. He X-rayed clean. It’s time to back off.”

Owned by Samantha Siegel, Extra Hope will be sent to a local layup facility for about six weeks, Mandella said.

Extra Hope has won two of eight starts and earned $165,900. His best result in three stakes appearances has been a third behind Improbable in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity last December.