Stellar Wind Back Working at Del Mar
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Stellar Wind following her win in the Clement L. Hirsch
A handful of hours before her recent rival Beholder was scheduled to take to the track to defend her Pacific Classic (gr. I) title at Del Mar, Hronis Racing's Stellar Wind logged her first breeze since she defeated the three-time champion in the Clement L. Hirsch (gr. I).
The 4-year-old Curlin filly took her first step toward the late-September Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I) with a :49 flat half-mile drill Aug. 20 under the watchful eye of trainer John Sadler.
BALAN: Stellar Wind Upsets Beholder in Hirsch
"It was really good," Sadler said. "It was an easy work for her and it's the start of a pattern. Next week she'll go in :48 and then five-eighths the week after that."
The trainer said the 2015 champion 3-year-old filly will get three more works in at Del Mar, before shipping back north to Santa Anita Park to finish off her preparations for the Zenyatta—where she may encounter Beholder again—and then the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).
Also at Del Mar Saturday morning:
- Champagne Room put in her first work since her breakthrough score in the Sorrento Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 6 at Del Mar. The Broken Vow filly trained by Peter Eurton ran four furlongs in :47 flat, the fifth fastest of 71 runs at the distance Saturday.
- Trainer Doug O’Neill said Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Nyquist will have his first workout since a fourth-place run in the Betfair.com Haskell Invitational (gr. I) when he stretches his legs Aug. 27 at Del Mar.
- Two horses were injured during training Saturday morning. The first was the fatal breakdown of Alicanto, a 3-year-old Tribal Rule filly trained by Eddie Truman who only raced once, back in 2015. Exercise rider Manny Rotella, aboard for Alicanto’s workout, was unseated and taken off the main track in a neck brace and on a backboard. He was sent to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla for further evaluation. The second injury came to 2-year-old filly Royal Reign, who was vanned off the main track during the final training session. Trainer David Bernstein said she injured her tibia in one of her back legs. She is expected to be OK after some time off.