Trophy Chaser gets back to work

MIAMI – Trophy Chaser zipped five furlongs in 59.05 seconds on Saturday at Gulfstream Park in his first work since finishing a distant third behind King Jack in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob on Sept. 21 at Parx Racing. Trophy Chaser posted a three-eighths split of 35.31 and was under mild pressure to finish before galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.

“He worked very well, I was very pleased,” trainer Juan Avila said afterward. “Right now, we haven’t picked out a definite spot for his next start, although we will nominate him to the Bold Ruler at Belmont. We will also study the condition book here further as well before making a final decision on where to run him next.

Trophy Chaser, who finished fifth in the Grade 1 Champagne at 2, posted a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure returning from nearly an eight-month layoff to win an allowance race on Aug. 30 at Gulfstream Park.