Uncle Boogie between Los Alamitos Futurity and Sham Stakes

Uncle Boogie earned $12,650 when he won a $32,000 claiming race for maidens at Santa Anita in October in his debut.

It would cost a little more than half of that amount to supplement Uncle Boogie to the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 19. Wednesday, trainer Andrew Lerner said he and owner Eric Homme are trying to decide whether to pay the money and run Uncle Boogie in the Futurity, or run him in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita on Jan. 2. The $100,000 Sham Stakes is the first graded stakes for Triple Crown hopefuls at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

“It will be between those two,” Lerner said.

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After the win by 6 1/4 lengths in the maiden claimer, Uncle Boogie was second in a starter allowance at Del Mar on Oct. 31 and a well-beaten second to Red Flag in the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 15.

“We think we have a good horse,” Lerner said. “He ran a good race in the Bob Hope. He’s improving.”

The Los Alamitos Futurity at 1 1/16 miles will not have a large field. Red Flag is a candidate, but would need to be supplemented.