Truly Quality nears comeback, eyes Del Mar Handicap
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Truly Quality, the Grade 2 winner who emerged as a top distance turf horse in California last year, is on the comeback trail for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The 5-year-old gelding, winner of Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup in November at Del Mar, has not raced since a puzzling sixth-place finish Feb. 8 as the even-money favorite in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita.
Comeback options for Truly Quality include the Grade 2 Eddie Read on July 27 at Del Mar, which Thomas said may be “coming up too quick.” Truly Quality worked his second half-mile on July 12.
“We’re going to have to figure a way to get him to the Del Mar Handicap,” Thomas said. “We might get away with training him into it.”
The 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap is Aug. 30.
◗ Johannes, a Grade 1 turf winner last year and Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up last fall, worked five furlongs in company Sunday at Santa Anita as he nears his first start of the year. Johannes, 8 for 13, has not raced since Dec. 26, when he won the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita.
Tim Yakteen trains Johannes, who was sidelined with bone bruising. He is expected to be nominated to the 1 1/8-mile Eddie Read. Another option is the one-mile Grade 1 Fourstardave on Aug. 2 at Saratoga. The Eddie Read purse is $250,000; the $750,000 Fourstardave is a Win and You’re In race for the BC Mile.
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