Well Armed on target for San Diego Cap

Well Armed, unraced since winning the $6 million Dubai World Cup in March, breezed a half-mile in 49.40 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday, and is on schedule to make his comeback in the $250,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 2, trainer Eoin Harty said.

Well Armed's time was the 15th fastest of 40 recorded works at the distance.

"He's progressing right on course," Harty said. "I've got a program worked out that should have him ready for the San Diego."

After the Dubai World Cup, Well Armed was a given a few weeks off at WinStar Farm in Kentucky before rejoining Harty's stable.

"He was more than ready to get back in action," Harty said.

Well Armed finished second in the San Antonio Handicap at Sana Anita in February in his most recent start in the United States.

Colonel John, the winner of 2008 Travers Stakes and Santa Anita Derby, is nearing his 2009 debut, Harty said. Unraced since finishing fourth in the Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita in December, Colonel John missed the Santa Anita Handicap in March because of an upper respiratory infection.

Monday, Colonel John worked five furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:00.40, the third-fastest of 20 recorded works at the distance.

Harty said he'd "rather not" start Colonel John in the San Diego. "There's plenty of races," he said. "He's getting ready quicker than I thought he would. We started back from scratch. By mid-July, he'll be ready to run."