San Francisco Mile a rebound spot for Balnikhov
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Six months removed from his latest win, Balnikhov is scheduled to start in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields with something to prove.
Balnikhov rallied through traffic to win by a neck in the Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Keeneland last October. Balnikhov lost his two subsequent starts. Balnikhov was beaten a nose when second in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, and was seventh of eight in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita on March 4.
Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Old Bones Racing Stable, and Madaket Stable, Balnikhov raced between horses and rallied four wide before fading from contention in the Kilroe Mile. Balnikhov raced closer to the front than usual in the Kilroe Mile.
“I think we took him out of his game a little bit,” trainer Phil D’Amato said on Sunday. “We’ll go back to the [old] tactics and get him covered up and make a late run.”
On Sunday at Santa Anita, Balnikhov worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 on the infield training track.
Umberto Rispoli has been aboard Balnikhov three times in the last year, and has the mount in the $250,000 San Francisco Mile, the richest race of the year at Golden Gate Fields.
The D’Amato-trained Earls Rock worked six furlongs in 1:13.40 on the main track and is also a candidate for the San Francisco Mile.
“Both gave me great signals that they are ready go to,” D’Amato said. “They both gave me their ‘A’ works.”
The San Francisco Mile has a projected field of 10, including Bob and Jackie, Crazy Dreams, Dicey Mo Chara, Flavius, Il Bellator, Rio King, Tarantino, and Tesoro.
The San Francisco Mile is the most lucrative race on a program that features five other stakes. The $100,000 California Derby at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds is the only other six-figure race.
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