Shea Brennan in midst of 30-day break

Shea Brennan, one of this year’s top California-breds, is in the midst of a 30-day vacation and a notable absentee from Saturday’s $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for statebreds at Los Alamitos.

Trained by Phil D’Amato for owner and breeder Nick Alexander, Shea Brennan won the Bertrando Stakes for statebreds at a mile by 3 3/4 lengths at Los Alamitos on June 20 in his first start of the year. Shea Brennan followed with a second-place finish by three-quarters of a length at 23-1 in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on July 18, his most recent start.

Shea Brennan worked as recently as mid-August, but D’Amato said the decision was reached to give the 4-year-old colt a brief rest.

:: Get ready for Santa Anita racing with DRF PPs, Clocker Reports, Picks and more. Shop Now.

“He tailed off on me that second half of Del Mar,” D’Amato said. “He wasn’t the same. We’ll give him a 30-day break.”

Shea Brennan, a two-time stakes winner, has won 4 of 12 starts and earned $407,530.

The field for the Johnston Stakes, run at a mile, does not include Big City Lights, a six-time stakes winner who was third by a length as the 7-2 favorite in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 29.

Trainer Richard Mandella said on Thursday that Big City Lights will be pointed for the $100,000 California Flag Handicap for statebreds at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Oct. 10.

A 7-year-old horse, Big City Lights has raced once on turf, finishing ninth of 10 after a slow start in the Stormy Liberal Stakes at five furlongs at Del Mar last November. Big City Lights did not race again until he won an allowance race at Santa Anita in early May, followed by a victory in the Thor’s Echo Stakes for statebred sprinters at six furlongs on May 23.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.