Texas Ryano likely to get a wintertime break

DEL MAR, Calif. – Texas Ryano won the most prestigious race of his career in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar last Friday and may not race again until late winter at Santa Anita, trainer Carla Gaines said.

Gaines said on Sunday that Texas Ryano’s 2017 campaign will be geared toward the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 4. Early-season turf races such as the $200,000 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Feb. 4 and the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes on March 25 could be considered.

Texas Ryano was sixth in this year’s BC Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 5 and won his second stakes, and first graded stakes, in the $200,345 Turf Cup.

“I was worried I was running him back too soon after the Breeders’ Cup,” Gaines said.

Owned by Warren Williamson, Texas Ryano has won 5 of 18 starts and earned $438,355.

Texas Ryano finished 3 1/4 lengths in front of runner-up Ashleyluvssugar, the 9-10 favorite. Ashleyluvssugar was fifth in the BC Turf earlier this month and may have been back in action too quickly, trainer Peter Eurton said.

“Twenty days might have been a little too close for my style,” Eurton said. “He’s going to enjoy a bit of time.”

Eurton mentioned the $250,000 California Cup Turf Classic for statebreds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Jan. 28 as a potential first race of 2017 for Ashleyluvssugar.

“I have to think that will be a good spot,” Eurton said. “He has options.”