Threefiveindia makes quick turnaround for optional claimer

DEL MAR, Calif. – Abel Cedillo liked what he felt under him the first time he rode Threefiveindia, and thinks there might even be more there, all of which makes Threefiveindia a formidable opponent in Thursday’s featured race 7 at Del Mar.

In his first start with Cedillo, and first since being claimed by Peter Miller for $40,000 in September, Threefiveindia crushed an optional-claiming field at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, winning by seven lengths while recording a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. He is cutting back in distance from seven furlongs to six and facing tougher competition on Thursday, but he’s clearly in the best form of the five runners in the $58,000 optional-claiming race.

“He was really strong,” Cedillo said of the Nov. 1 win. “Now he’ll even be more ready. He’ll be tough.”

Cedillo made sure to keep close contact with Threefiveindia. He went to the San Luis Downs training center on Saturday morning to give Threefiveindia an easy three-furlong drill.

Threefiveindia is sharp, but he is coming back in 13 days. This is his third race following an eight-month layoff. He was risked for $40,000 last time, but the “for sale” sign has been taken down. Miller is using a condition in this race that makes him claim-proof.

Two of his primary rivals are returning from layoffs.

Fight On has not raced since May 3, when he was fourth of 11 in the Oaklawn Mile. This will be his first sprint in 11 starts, since August 2018.

“He’s coming back in good form, but I think he’ll be better going two turns,” said Leandro Mora, the top assistant to Fight On’s trainer, Doug O’Neill.

“He needed a little freshening. He had had a tough campaign. We decided to give him some time off.”

Fight On is reunited with Tyler Baze, who rode him to victory in the Fifth Season at Oaklawn on April 14.

Awesome Anywhere has not raced since January, when he was fourth against top sprinters like Roy H in the Palos Verdes. He has been working steadily at Los Alamitos for his return for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

“We just decided to freshen him up,” said Hollendorfer’s top assistant, Dan Ward. “He’s had problems with his feet.”

Hollendorfer also sends out Koa, who is cutting back to a sprint after trying 1 1/8 miles in the Bull Dog at Fresno last time out.

Horse Greedy takes a drop in class after taking on the likes of Omaha Beach and Shancelot in his last start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship. He is in for a $100,000 claiming price and is the only horse in the field eligible to be claimed.