Melatonin Could Get Time Off After Gold Cup

Tarabilla Farms' Melatonin, now three-for-three at Santa Anita Park in 2016 after his second grade I win of the year June 25 in the Gold Cup, came out of the 1 1/4-mile race in good order, according to trainer David Hofmans June 26.

"So far he looks good," Hofmans said. "He ate up last night, which is a key thing, because horses that run as hard as he did sometimes don't eat up.

BALAN: Melatonin Game in Gold Cup Victory

"I was very proud of him. That was his best race. He ran two seconds faster than his last race at a mile and a quarter (1:59.79 for the Gold Cup, 2:02.01 for the Santa Anita Handicap, gr. I, March 12). I was very pleased with his effort yesterday.

"I don't have a race in mind for him right now. I've got to give him time, because he's not that big (of) a horse. Maybe the Awesome Again (gr. I) here. I don't know. We'll see."

          

The Awesome Again will be run at Santa Anita Oct. 1.

The Kodiak Kowboy gelding had more than two months off before the Gold Cup, after finishing second to Effinex in the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) April 16.

Also of note from the morning Sunday at Santa Anita:

• Fox Hill Farms' Songbird, preparing for a tour back east that will likely include the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 20, worked four furlongs under regular rider Mike Smith in :49 1/5 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who won six races Saturday—three at Santa Anita and three at the Oak Tree meet at Pleasanton. "It was just a real nice work," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "She went off slow and finished up good. We were all happy afterwards."
• Champions Beholder and Stellar Wind, first and second in the Vanity Mile (gr. I) June 4, each worked Sunday at Santa Anita for a possible rematch in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar July 30. Beholder went five furlongs in :59 flat for Richard Mandella, while Stellar Wind ran the same distance in 1:00 4/5 for John Sadler, who called the drill "perfect." Said Mandella: "It was a little faster than I wanted, but it was a nice five-eighths."
• San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) winner Danzing Candy worked six furlongs in 1:13 flat for Bob Baffert, who has the son of Twirling Candy   set for the July 2 Affirmed Stakes (gr. III).
• Multiple graded stakes winner Om, back with trainer Dan Hendricks after being turned out, worked three furlongs in :38 flat.
• Firing Line, second to American Pharoah   in the 2015 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 for Simon Callaghan, who has the son of Line of David   on course for a meeting with California Chrome   in the San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 23.