Dortmund Back to Dirt in Next Start
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Photo: Gary Tasich
Dortmund works at Los Alamitos March 5
Kaleem Shah's Dortmund sent a clear message to trainer Art Sherman after the son of 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Big Brown finished last by more than 10 lengths in his turf debut in the grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile March 11.
It will be back to square one when the 2015 Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner runs in the $75,000 Santana Mile for older horses on Santa Anita Park's main track April 1.
"We tried the grass and it didn't work," Sherman said. "The horse has breezed well since then for Saturday's race and he's right on schedule to run."
Dortmund posted a bullet four-furlong work at Los Alamitos Race Course in :46 flat to be the fastest of 21 at the distance March 25.
The Kilroe Mile marked the first race for Dortmund under Sherman's direction. The 5-year-old chestnut was previously trained by Bob Baffert until Shah moved his horses to Sherman and Doug O'Neill at the beginning of the year.
In 2016 Dortmund did not post a win, but finished second in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) Oct. 1 and the San Diego Handicap (G2) July 23 behind California Chrome . He also finished third in the $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) Aug. 20, this time behind California Chrome and champion mare Beholder, and fourth in his last start of 2016 in the Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).