ARCADIA, Calif. - There was a minor element of mystery surrounding a five-furlong workout by the 3-year-old Intrepido at Santa Anita on Sunday, but only because of brief weather conditions.
Intrepido, scheduled to start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 at dawn. Trainer Jeff Mullins said later in the morning that the workout met his satisfaction, at least the part he could witness.
“It was foggy,” Mullins said. “We couldn’t see much.”
Visibility improved through the morning as the fog lifted.
Intrepido won the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 4, and was fifth of six in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Oct. 31. In his first start this year, Intrepido was second by three-quarters of a length to the now-sidelined Plutarch in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at a mile on Feb. 7. Intrepido was near the front throughout the Lewis Stakes.
Intrepido was held out of the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 7 in favor of the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles. The Santa Anita Derby is a key prep race for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2.
Also on Sunday, Pavlovian, winner of the $500,000 Sunland Derby in New Mexico on Feb. 15, worked five furlongs from the gate in 1:01 in preparation for the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds next Saturday.
Edwin Maldonado, who has the mount for trainer Doug O’Neill, was aboard for the workout.
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