Santa Anita: The Factor may go to Dubai for Golden Shaheen

The Factor, who won the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26 for his fourth career stakes win, will skip Saturday’s $150,000 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita in favor of a race in February or March.

Trainer Bob Baffert said on Monday that The Factor is being considered for the $2 million Golden Shaheen for sprinters in Dubai on March 31, but could stay in California and start in the $200,000 San Carlos Stakes over seven furlongs on Feb. 25. The Malibu was run over seven furlongs.

“I haven’t decided if I’m going to Dubai with him,” Baffert said. “If I do, I won’t run until then.”

In Saturday’s Palos Verdes over six furlongs, Baffert plans to start Euroears, the winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last July. The Palos Verdes will be the final career start for Euroears, who is scheduled to go to stud in Oklahoma this year.

The Palos Verdes field is led by Amazombie, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs in November and the champion sprinter of 2011. Other candidates include the stakes winners Courtside, M One Rifle, and Mensa Heat.