Signature Red will get a short rest

Signature Red became a stakes winner in the Highlander under jockey Chantal Sutherland, registering his second straight win over six furlongs of turf after taking the prep at the same distance.

"I always loved this horse," said Sid Attard, who trains Signature Red.

Signature Red had placed in a pair of Grade 3 stakes sprints on Polytrack and had raced only once on turf prior to this season, finishing ninth under second-level allowance terms at one mile.

"That race was too far," said Attard. "I don't think it matters what he runs on, up to seven-eighths."

Signature Road shipped to Adena Springs on Wednesday for a 10-day freshening. His next major target will be the Aug. 29 Play the King, a seven-furlong turf race which offers Grade 2 status and a purse of $200,000.

Essence Hit Man may have to travel

Essence Hit Man, taken off the road to the Queen's Plate after finishing third in the 1 1/16-mile Marine here May 20, got back to what he does best here last Saturday.

That would be sprinting, and Essence Hit Man showed the way throughout the six-furlong Achievement to score by a geared-down 1 3/4 lengths under regular rider Sutherland.

The $150,400 Achievement was the third win in four starts this year for Essence Hit Man, with his first two coming in the six-furlong Woodstock and seven-furlong Queenston.

But Audre Cappuccitti, who trains Essence Hit Man and is the colt's co-owner and breeder in partnership with her husband, Gord, is at a loss as what to do now with her talented 3-year-old.

"I'd love to stay here, but I can't find anything for him," said Cappuccitti.

So Elite headed to Saratoga

So Elite notched his first stakes win here in last Saturday's $105,800 Charlie Barley, an open one-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds.

Trained by Mark Casse and with Jones in the irons, So Elite registered his second straight impressive win after romping in a first-level allowance race at 1 1/8 miles here July 3.

"He'll do a little bit of everything, but Jono thinks he's a little better on turf," said Casse.

Casse said So Elite is slated to make his next start at Saratoga, either on the dirt in the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy on July 31 or the turf in the 1 1/8-mile Hall of Fame on Aug. 13.

Hollywood Hit works rapidly

Hollywood Hit breezed five furlongs in a bullet 58.00 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:11 here Wednesday in preparation for the July 17 Bold Venture.

"He went pretty good," said trainer Terry Jordan, a master of understatement. "We've just got to make sure he's all intact, and away we go."

Hollywood Hit will be looking for his third stakes win in as many starts this season in the 6 1/2-furlong Bold Venture, which offers a purse of $150,000.