Dortmund Works, San Pasqual Still in Question
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After Dortmund's third workout since his victory in the Native Diver Stakes (gr. III), trainer Bob Baffert said a run in the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 9 at Santa Anita Park for the son of Big Brown is still in question.
The 4-year-old colt owned by Kaleem Shah breezed seven furlongs in 1:25 4/5 Jan. 3 at Santa Anita under regular rider Martin Garcia, but his Hall of Fame trainer was hoping for a little better finish.
"He worked all right, but he was tired at the end of it," Baffert said. "He didn't really finish like I'd like to see him finish. I missed time with him after that quarter crack (that scratched him from the Nov. 27 Clark Handicap, gr. I) and I wanted to see him finish up a little bit better today."
BLOOD-HORSE STAFF: Dortmund Out of Clark Handicap
If Dortmund doesn't run in the San Pasqual next Saturday, a potential matchup with California Chrome may have to wait until later in the year. Baffert said the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 12 is the ultimate target for Dortmund, while California Chrome is scheduled to travel overseas for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).
On Jan. 2 California Chrome worked five furlongs in 1:10 during a special late-morning workout session at Santa Anita, just before the day's races.
BALAN: California Chrome Blazes in Santa Anita Drill
Also on the Santa Anita worktab Sunday was Reddam Racing's likely 2-year-old champion colt Nyquist, who covered five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 for trainer Doug O'Neill. It was the undefeated Uncle Mo colt's third drill since his half-length win in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 31. He breezed three furlongs in :37 Dec. 19 and four furlongs in :48 2/5 Dec. 27.
"Awesome," O'Neill said of Nyquist, who is taking a somewhat unconventional path to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). "In an ideal world, he's going to run big in the San Vicente (gr. II, Feb. 20 at Santa Anita), he's going to come out of that in great shape, run big in the Florida Derby (gr. I, April 4 at Gulfstream Park), come out of that in great shape, then he's going to Kentucky."
Gulfstream Park, in partnership with Fasig-Tipton, is offering a $1 million bonus to the Florida Derby winner if the horse is graduate of last year's 2015 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-olds in training sale. Nyquist was purchased for $400,000 at that sale by O'Neill's brother, Dennis.