The Padre, winner of the La Jolla Handicap and Del Mar Derby during the Del Mar summer meeting, is briefly out of training, according to trainer Phil D’Amato.
“We had to turn him out for a little bit,” D’Amato said. “He came out of the last race like he needed a little freshening.”
D’Amato said that The Padre is scheduled to return to his stable at Santa Anita in mid-October. The Grade 2 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 is a long-range goal. D’Amato did not rule out the possibility that The Padre could run in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 29.
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“I would say there’s a small chance for the Hollywood Derby,” he said. “The Mathis Mile makes more sense.”
An Irish-bred colt by the Dubawi stallion Ghaiyyath, The Padre races for the Little Red Feather Racing partnership, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify. The Padre has won 3 of 4 starts, beginning with a maiden race in Ireland in January.
The Padre has made his last three starts in California for D’Amato, a second in an allowance race at Santa Anita on June 13, the La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 3, and the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Aug. 31.
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