Surfer Girl next for With Honors

DEL MAR, Calif. – With Honors, who remained unbeaten with her victory in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Monday, will have her final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes on Oct. 10 at Santa Anita, according to Alex Solis Jr., the racing manager for owner-breeder LNJ Foxwoods.

With Honors had to break from the outside post in the field of 12 in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, but was able to get over to the two path by the time the field reached the first turn. She prevailed by a half-length over You Missed It, whom she had beaten in a maiden race July 29.

With Honors, a daughter of War Front, is trained by Keith Desormeaux.

◗ Big Gray Rocket, who defeated maidens Monday in his second start, will stay away from stablemate Klimt and likely head out of town for his next race, trainer Bob Baffert said.

“I want to keep him one turn right now,” Baffert said. “Maybe New York.”

The Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes on Oct. 8 at Belmont Park suits, being a one-turn mile.

Big Gray Rocket, by Tapit, was heavily favored after a nightmarish debut Aug. 13, in which he walked out of the gate and then closed stoutly to just miss. He won Monday’s 6 1/2-furlong race by 6 3/4 lengths.

◗ Trainer Chris Hartman, who finished in a tie for 10th in the standings at Del Mar with seven victories in his first meet on this circuit, said he will keep a string at Santa Anita, with 15 runners headed there. Hartman has the majority of his runners in Kentucky.

◗ Jockeys Norberto Arroyo Jr. and Rafael Bejarano each were suspended for three days, Sept. 10, 11, and 15, after being cited by Del Mar’s stewards for careless-riding infractions Saturday.

◗ Jockey Rito Almanza was fined $200 for excessive use of the whip in Sunday’s first race. It was his second offense in the past 60 days.

◗ Trainer Bob Hess Jr. was fined $500 after a horse of his entered on Saturday at Del Mar had to be scratched when it was improperly treated.