Venetian Harbor possible for BC Filly and Mare Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. - Venetian Harbor, second in the Grade 1 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga in August, may have her next start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

“She’s training lights-out at San Luis Rey Downs,” trainer Richard Baltas said over the weekend. “I’m pretty happy with her right now.”

On Sept. 22, Venetian Harbor worked five furlongs in 58.60 seconds.

Venetian Harbor has won 2 of 6 starts and has earned $383,400 for the partnership of Joe Ciaglia, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm, and Domenic Savides. She won the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita in February in her stakes debut.

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By Munnings, Venetian Harbor was beaten seven lengths by Gamine in the Test Stakes at seven furlongs.

Baltas may start Bob and Jackie in Saturday’s Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf at Santa Anita. Bob and Jackie won the Wickerr Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 11, but was fourth behind Mo Forza in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 23.

Bob and Jackie is owned by Zayat Stables, whose horses are in receivership following bankruptcy proceedings earlier this year. Baltas said he was owed approximately $300,000 in training and associated costs prior to the bankruptcy filings. Baltas fears those funds may not be recovered.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get my money,” he said. “I hope I get some kind of payment. I’m one of many trainers.”

The 4-year-old Bob and Jackie worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 on Sunday at Santa Anita.