Top Fortitude likely will start in either Woody Stephens or Affirmed

ARCADIA, Calif. – Top Fortitude, the winner of the $100,500 Lazaro Barrera Stakes in a 30-1 upset Saturday, is likely to start in a stakes June 7. But the distance, and the location, will be determined later this month, trainer Kory Owens said on Sunday.

Owens said he has no immediate plans for Top Fortitude. He said the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita and the $500,000 Woody Stephens Stakes over seven furlongs at Belmont Park will be considered. Both races are for 3-year-olds and will be run June 7.

Owens said he’s “not sure” whether Top Fortitude will carry his speed around two turns. The Grade 3 Barrera Stakes was run over seven furlongs, the longest race of Top Fortitude’s three-race career.

“Earlier in the year, I thought he’d be a two-turn horse,” Owens said. “I can stay here and run in the Affirmed. The Woody Stephens is an option. We’ll look at them.

“He’s a little tired, but he looks good physically.”

Top Fortitude beat maidens in his debut over 6 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park last November but missed training time over the winter. He finished last of 10 in an optional claimer over seven furlongs April 12.

Owned by Owens’ father Richard, who races as Triple AAA Ranch, Top Fortitude ($62.20) ran seven furlongs in 1:22.98 to win the Barrera by 1 1/2 lengths over Tonito M. Top Fortitude was ridden by Kayla Stra, an Australian native who won her first American stakes in the Barrera. Stra has ridden in the United States since 2007.

Tonito M. made his U.S. debut in the Barrera. A winner of 6 of 7 starts in Puerto Rico, including four stakes, Tonito M. was sixth in a field of seven on the turn and closed well through the stretch. Tonito M. is owned by Mickey Gonzalez and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

Dan Ward, Hollendorfer’s assistant, said Sunday that Tonito M. will be considered for three stakes June 7 – the Affirmed, Woody Stephens, or the $150,000 Easy Goer Stakes for 3-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park.

Kory Owens said that one summertime goal for Top Fortitude could be the $500,000 Los Alamitos Derby over 1 1/8 miles July 5. The Grade 2 Los Alamitos Derby will be the richest race of the track’s Thoroughbred meeting in July. The race was previously run at Hollywood Park as the Swaps Stakes.

Top Fortitude was one of 56 3-year-olds nominated to the Los Alamitos Derby by May 1. A supplemental entry of $10,000 can be made at time of entries.

The 56 nominees include such notable 3-year-olds as Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome as well as Bayern, Candy Boy, Chitu, Dance With Fate, Hoppertunity, and Tonito M. Shared Belief, the champion 2-year-old male of 2013, who has yet to start this year, is nominated.