Sharp Samurai among more than 170 workers on Saturday

Sharp Samurai, second in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 22, worked a quick half-mile in 47.40 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday, moving closer to a start in an important turf stakes.

Sharp Samurai is under consideration for two races on Oct. 3 - the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile on turf at Keeneland or the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf at Santa Anita, said co-owner Tim Cohen on Saturday. Cohen said in a text message that Sharp Samurai is unlikely to run in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt at Santa Anita on Sept. 26. Sharp Samurai is trained by Mark Glatt.

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

The winner of the Shadwell Mile receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

The expected field for the Awesome Again Stakes is led by Maximum Security, who won the Pacific Classic, and Improbable, who won the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 1. Higher Power, third in the 2019 Awesome Again and Breeders’ Cup Classic five weeks later, is another candidate.

Saturday, Higher Power worked six furlongs in 1:15. Trained by John Sadler, Higher Power was fourth in the Pacific Classic.

Sadler also worked Combatant six furlongs in 1:14.40. Combatant is winless in three starts since an upset victory in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 7 and is nominated to the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita.

The Tokyo City Cup was scheduled for this Sunday, but Santa Anita canceled Saturday and Sunday, the first two days of the autumn meeting, because of poor air quality caused by a wildfire in the mountains near the racetrack.

The smoke from the fire has affected training in the last 10 days.

Air quality was enough of a concern to limit training on Tuesday and Thursday to joggers and gallopers and no workouts. Saturday, there were more than 170 workouts, with busy mornings expected in coming days.

The autumn meeting will now begin on Friday with a three-day weekend that includes 12 stakes, 10 graded. The season concludes on Oct. 25.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

There are seven stakes from Friday through Sept. 27 that are part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, awarding the winner a fees-paid berth to Breeders’ Cup races at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7. The winner of the Awesome Again Stakes receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Classic.

There will be a few shippers running at Santa Anita next weekend.

Sleepy Eyes Todd, the winner of the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in West Virginia on Aug. 28, is being pointed for the Awesome Again and has arrived at Santa Anita, track officials said.

Notable Exception, the winner of a maiden special weight race at Arlington Park in his debut on Sept. 4, is scheduled to start in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 26, said trainer Jack Sisterson. Saturday at Keeneland, Notable Exception breezed five furlongs in 59.80.

The winner of the American Pharoah Stakes receives a berth to the BC Juvenile on Nov. 6.