Venetian Harbor to skip Acorn, get more rest before next start

ELMONT, N.Y. – Venetian Harbor, dominant winner of the Grade 2 Las Virgenes at Santa Anita and runner-up in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn, will skip an expected start in Saturday’s Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park, trainer Richard Baltas said.

“I just think she needs more time between races,” Baltas said. ”She’s doing okay, not perfect. I don’t want to rush her.”

Baltas said he would look at the Ashland on July 11 at Keeneland or more likely the Grade 1 Test at seven furlongs at Saratoga. A date for the Test has not yet been announced by the New York Racing Association.

Baltas said he recently sent Venetian Harbor from Santa Anita to San Luis Rey Downs to continue training.

“I trained her here at Santa Anita; she trains better over there,” Baltas said. “She gets over the track better over there.”

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The defection of Venetian Harbor leaves an expected field of six for the Acorn, led by Gamine and also including Casual, Lucrezia, Perfect Alibi, Pleasant Orb, and Water White.

The connections of Tonalist’s Shape haven’t entirely ruled out the Acorn, but the lack of a flight from Florida to New York makes it less likely, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said.