Shirreffs reroutes Atitlan to Del Mar Handicap after stall incident

Atitlan, a three-time graded stakes winner in the last year, is booked to start in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 30 after missing Sunday’s Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes after kicking a wall.

Trainer John Shirreffs said on Wednesday that Atitlan was jogged “the last few days” after recovering from the incident, which occurred in the days before the $250,500 Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.

“He spread his shoe, and bruised his foot,” Sherriffs said.

:: Del Mar Clocker Reports are available every race day. Go beyond the PPs with exclusive morning workout notes straight from the track.

Shirreffs said the incident occurred when Atitlan reacted to a loose horse in the stable area.

The $300,000 Del Mar Handicap is run at 1 3/8 miles, a distance Shirreffs said if “perfect” for Atitlan, a 4-year-old colt owned by John O’Connor.

“That’s the race we hope to make,” Shirreffs said. “It’s not like he missed much time.”

The winner of the Del Mar Handicap receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Atitlan has won 4 of 11 starts and earned $426,000. Last October, Atitlan won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita. This spring, he won consecutive starts on turf at Santa Anita in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles in March and the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on May 3.

In his last start, Atitlan finished fifth by 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita on May 26, closing from last of nine in the final half-mile.

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