With wet weather on the way, trainers move up workouts

With extensive rain forecast in coming days, some Santa Anita-based trainers have significantly altered their approach to preparing runners for major stakes on March 4.

Air Force Red, a top candidate for the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf, and Newgrange, who may go favored in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on dirt, were given workouts on Thursday, four days after they worked on Sunday.

Rain is expected on Friday and Saturday and the Santa Anita main track and training track may not reopen for workouts until Monday, conditions permitting.

In the case of Air Force Red, the two-time stakes winner had his final workout for the $500,000 Kilroe on Thursday, going five furlongs in 1:00.80. On Sunday, Air Force Red worked a half-mile in 49 seconds.

“It was an easy work last weekend,” Powell said. “I didn’t have any problem working today. We’re going day by day and trying to do the best for our horses.”

Air Force Red was third by a neck behind Earls Rock in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf on Feb. 4, racing near the front throughout. Powell predicts that Air Force Red will have a similar trip in what should be a large and competitive field in the Kilroe Mile.

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“I cannot make predictions until I see the draw and the field,” Powell said. “We’ll be forwardly placed, for sure.”

Earls Rock, who worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 on Thursday, may join trainer Phil D’Amato’s extensive team for the Kilroe. D’Amato had previously mentioned that Earls Rock would pass the Kilroe for the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf on April 2, but said on Thursday that the Kilroe is a stronger possibility.

“He gave me a sensational breeze,” D’Amato said.

D’Amato plans to start the multiple stakes winners Balnikhov and Hong Kong Harry in the Kilroe Mile. Balnikhov worked a half-mile in 49.20 seconds on the infield training track on Thursday, having worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 on Sunday. Hong Kong Harry did not work on Thursday.

“Some horses don’t need it as much as others,” D’Amato said. It’s a horse-by-horse situation.”

Aside from Balnikhov, Hong Kong Harry, and possible Earls Rock, D’Amato’s team for the Kilroe may also include Masteroffoxhounds, who was second in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on Feb. 5, and Motorious, who was second in the Clockers’ Corner Stakes on Jan. 29. Motorious is also a candidate for the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on the hillside turf course on March 5.

D’Amato trains Newgrange who worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 on Sunday and a half-mile in 49 seconds on Thursday. Newgrange won the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 28.

In other notable works, the recent maiden race winners Geaux Rocket Ride and Skinner worked in advance of expected starts in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 4.

Geaux Rocket Ride, trained by Richard Mandella, worked six furlongs in 1:12.80, while Skinner worked five furlongs in 1:01 for trainer John Shirreffs.

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