Santa Anita notes: Wittgenstein's campaign hinges on Sunday race

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Doug O’Neill had considered 3-year-old filly Wittgenstein an outside candidate for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on Nov. 1. Then, he checked her status with the Breeders’ Cup.O’Neill said on Friday that Wittgenstein is not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup, meaning owners Paul and Zillah Reddam would have to pay a $100,000 nomination fee before the pre-entries are due on Oct. 21 to start in the BC Distaff.

Wittgenstein starts on Sunday in an optional claimer at a mile at Santa Anita which will determine her Breeders’ Cup status.

“Right now, we’re focused on Sunday,” O’Neill said on Friday. “We’ll see what happens.”

Wittegenstein was second in the Torrey Pines Stakes to the four-time Grade 1 winner Beholder at Del Mar on Sept. 1. Wittgenstein has yet to win a stakes.

Sunday’s race drew a field of six. Changethechannel, trained by Sean McCarthy, is a threat following a third in the Las Madrinas Handicap at the Los Angeles County Fair on Sept. 21 in her first start of 2012.

Blonde Fog returns

Blonde Fog, second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet in her stakes debut last fall, makes her first start of 2013 in an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles in Sunday’s first race.

Despite the long layoff, trainer Bob Baffert said the distance should not be a problem for Blonde Fog.

“I like that she’s back, that’s the number one thing,” Baffert said. “We’ve got to get her started somewhere. I didn’t want to run her short.”

Owned by Mark DeDomenico and Mike Pegram, Blonde Fog has run twice. She made an impressive debut in a maiden race at 1 116 miles here last October, leading throughout and winning by 12 1/2 lengths. In the Hollywood Starlet at 1 1/16 miles, Blonde Fog led by two lengths at the eighth pole and was beaten a length by Pure Fun.

Pure Fun won the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks at Indiana Downs on Oct. 5.

Sale benefits retirement group

A filly by top California stallion Unusual Heat sold for $57,000 at Tuesday’s Barretts October yearling sale, with the proceeds going to the California Retirement Management Account for retired Thoroughbreds.

The filly was purchased by Tim McCurry, through Fleetwood Bloodstock.

The filly was bred by Madeline Auerbach, who owns Unusual Heat, and Jan and Jerry Hawthorne, who own the filly’s mare, Practicaly Perfect. Auerbach and the Hawthornes donated their fees and costs. The filly was consigned by Harris Farms, agent. Harris Farms and Barretts waived their commission fees on the sale, according to a statement from CARMA.

Nakatani has new agent

Jockey Corey Nakatani has hired Tony Matos as his agent, both said on Friday. The partnership takes effect with beginning of racing on the week of Oct. 17.

Matos has represented Garrett Gomez, who informed the agent on Thursday that he does not intend to ride in the near future. Gomez sought treatment for alcoholism in the summer.

Concave zips half-mile

Concave, the winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 7 in her stakes debut, worked a half-mile in 46.20 seconds on Friday, preparing for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 2.

Trainer Doug O’Neill timed Concave in 1:00.60 for five furlongs and galloping out six furlongs in 1:15. Concave was third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 31 and has not started since.

– additional reporting by Brad Free