Well Defined starting up for second part of season

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Kathleen O’Connell said her top 3-year-old Well Defined is back in training after being given some time off following his ninth-place finish in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby.

Well Defined, a homebred son of With Distinction owned by Stonehedge LLC, had captured the Grade 3 Sam Davis with a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure in his previous start and was considered the top local 2-year-old prospect here last season following his one-sided victory in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality Stakes.

“We sent him to the farm for a short rest after the Tampa Bay Derby,” said O’Connell whose stable is split this summer between Gulfstream Park West and Monmouth Park. “He two-minute-licked at Gulfstream Park West earlier this week and he’s about ready to get on a regular work pattern. We’ll sit down and figure the best route for him the second half of the season, but it’s going to be at least three or four weeks before he’s ready to run.”

◗ Sunday’s main event, an optional-claiming race at five furlongs on the turf, will go as the opener on an 11-race program and drew a field of eight, including a couple of main-track-only entrants. The field is led by recent winners Black Jet and Gran Saman along with Tenacity Zip, beaten a head under similar conditions 31 days earlier.