Four leading 3-year-olds worked at Santa Anita for next weekend's GII San Felipe S., headed by GI Los Alamitos Futurity and GII Robert B. Lewis S. hero Mor Spirit (Eskendereya). The Michael Petersen colorbearer, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, worked six furlongs in 1:12.20.
“I liked the way he went,” Baffert said. “He went really well. His company was trying to stay with him, but he did well. Martin [Garcia] did a great job keeping him focused. We beat the rain, we're all set. Now we've just got to wait.”
'TDN Rising Star' Danzing Candy (Twirling Candy), an impressive maiden winner in Arcadia Feb. 4, worked five furlongs in 1:01 flat under Mike Smith. “It was good,” trainer Cliff Sise Jr. said. “He's happy.”
Exaggerator (Curlin), second behind champion Nyquist (Uncle Mo) while making his sophomore debut in the GII San Vicente S. Feb. 15, covered five furlongs under Kent Desormeaux in 1:00.40. “It was a nice work,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said. “He finished in :22 4/5. That's not bad. He was under control, limber, and wasn't stressed out afterwards, all things you want to see in a horse getting ready for a race, so we're happy.”
Unbeaten California-bred Smokey Image (Southern Image), meanwhile, worked four furlongs in company in :48.60. “Unbelievable,” jockey Victor Espinoza said. “He's ready to go.”
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