Melatonin (Kodiak Kowboy) exited his victory in Saturday's GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita in fine shape, trainer David Hofmans reported Sunday.
“So far he looks good,” Hofmans said. “He ate up last night which is a key thing, because horses that run as hard as he did sometimes don't eat up.”
The Gold Cup was Melatonin's second Grade I victory, following a 4 1/4-length triumph in the GI Santa Anita H. in March, but Hofmans thinks Saturday's effort was the veteran's best performance to date.
“I was very proud of him,” Hofmans said of Melatonin. “That was his best race. He ran two seconds faster than his last race at a mile and a quarter [1:59.79 for the Gold Cup; 2:02 flat for the Santa Anita H.]. I was very pleased with his effort yesterday.”
Melatonin had been off nearly two months since finishing second in the Apr. 16 GII Oaklawn H. and the bay gelding may get an extended period off after his win in the Gold Cup.
“I don't have a race in mind for him right now,” Hofmans said. “I've got to give him time, because he's not that big a horse. Maybe the [GI Oct. 1] Awesome Again here. I don't know. We'll see.”
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