Roy H on track for early 2019 goals

Roy H, the champion sprinter of 2017 who has won the last two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, worked a half-mile in 49.20 seconds at Del Mar on Wednesday in preparation for the 2019 season.

Trainer Peter Miller on Wednesday reiterated previously stated plans to have Roy H ready for the Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 19 as a prep for the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai on March 30.

Owned by Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen, Roy H was third in the Golden Shaheen last March.

“He’s doing super,” Miller said. “He keeps on ticking.”

Miller said the $200,000 Palos Verdes is vital as a prep race for Roy H following his win in the BC Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

“It’s too long to train up to Dubai for my liking,” he said.

Stormy Liberal, who won the BC Turf Sprint for the second consecutive year on Nov. 3, worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 at Del Mar on Wednesday and is on a similar schedule as Roy H. Stormy Liberal is expected to run in the $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Jan. 1, and the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai in March.

Stormy Liberal was second in the Al Quoz Sprint earlier this year.

Miller said his stable has remained at Del Mar following the conclusion of the track’s autumn meeting on Dec. 2 while his barns at San Luis Rey Downs in nearby Bonsall, Calif., underwent renovation. The horses were expected to be moved back to San Luis Rey Downs this week.