A Z Warrior iffy for Hollywood Starlet
A Z Warrior, a 2-year-old filly whom Baffert trains for Zayat, returned to racetrack training earlier this week following a last-place finish in the BC Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 5.
Baffert said that A Z Warrior emerged from her 12th-place finish in the Juvenile Fillies with a bruised foot, which he said was only a temporary setback.
“I just started her back a few days ago,” he said. “I’ll know in a week if I’ll run her in the Starlet.”
The Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet is run over 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies on Dec. 11.
A Z Warrior has won 2 of 5 starts and $239,600. She won the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 9, her lone stakes win.
The Starlet is expected to include Tell a Kelly, the winner of the Grade 1 Darley Debutante at Del Mar in September and the seventh-place finisher in the Juvenile Fillies.
Dakota Phone may try Native Diver
Dakota Phone, the upset winner of the BC Dirt Mile on Nov. 6, may start in the $100,000 Native Diver Handicap over 1 1/8 miles on Dec. 4, according to Dan Ward, assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Dakota Phone closed from last in a field of 12 to win the Dirt Mile by a head over Morning Line as a 37-1 shot.
Ward said the Native Diver could lead to a start for Dakota Phone in the $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Jan. 9.
The Usual Q. T. will await San Gabriel
The Usual Q. T., third in the BC Mile, will pass the $250,000 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park on Nov. 27 and is tentatively scheduled to start in the $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap at Santa Anita on Dec. 27, trainer Jim Cassidy said.
The Usual Q. T. resumed track training on Wednesday for the first time since finishing two lengths behind the mighty Goldikova in the Mile on turf.
Cassidy said that Evening Jewel, third in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 5, will be pointed for the $250,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, the opening day of the track’s winter-spring meeting.