Astronomer, fourth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24 in his best result this year, is a candidate for the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 2, provided he can gain a berth in what is likely to be a popular race.
The purse of the Turf Classic, run at 1 1/8 miles, has been increased by $500,000 to $1.5 million. The race will have a maximum field of 14, a concern for Simon Callaghan, who trains Astronomer for Alice Bamford and Michael Tabor.
The field is determined by graded stakes winners on turf, graded stakes-placed runners, and runners with the highest earnings on turf since Jan. 1, 2025.
Astronomer has earned $142,600 since the start of 2025. He was second in two graded stakes in late 2025, the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar in November and Grade 3 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita in December.
“I’m not guaranteed to get in,” Callaghan said.
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Astronomer was beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Test Score in the Pegasus World Cup Turf at 1 1/8 miles, the nation’s leading wintertime turf race, and returned to finish seventh of eight in the Grade 2 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita on March 7.
Callaghan said on Thursday that the distance of the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs is a better fit for Astronomer, a 7-year-old gelding who has won 3 of 24 starts and earned $449,600.
“It didn’t work out well for him last time,” Callaghan said. “I think a mile and a sixteenth or mile and an eighth is his distance. A mile is too short.”
Callaghan gave a positive update on Saqqara Sands, a 4-year-old filly who won two stakes in Britain and joined his stable earlier this winter. Purchased for $2.2 million at the Tattersalls horses-in-training sale in Britain in December by Michael Tabor, Saqqara Sands was given a 60-day rest after arriving in California.
Callaghan said the Del Mar summer meeting is a goal for Saqqara Sands, a winner of 3 of 8 starts.
“I think giving her 60 days was the right thing to do,” he said. “We’ve aligned our sights to Del Mar. Obviously, she’s got potential to be the best filly in this division and hopefully a filly we can ship down the road. She’s got all the right credentials.”
In Britain last year, Saqqara Sands won consecutive starts in the minor Eternal Stakes for fillies and mares at Carlisle last June and, in a dead heat, the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at seven furlongs at Goodwood in July.
By Oasis Dream, Saqqara Sands was later second against males in the Group 2 Celebration Mile against males at Goodwood in August, but she last of nine in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile at Newmarket in October in her last start of the year.
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