Formal Attire Misses Work for GP Handicap

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(from Gulfstream Park notes)
Trainer Phil Serpe was forced to postpone a planned Sunday morning workout for Formal Attire because of a stubborn foot bruise, but will try again Monday in hopes the colt can make Saturday's $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II).

"When he worked two breezes back he sprung a shoe and really bruised his hoof," said Serpe. "It's a deep seeded bruise and it's still not 100 percent. We wanted to work him this morning, but we had to cancel it. We'll give it another attempt tomorrow, but it's not looking good."

Formal Attire has been on the shelf since a fifth-place finish in the Strub Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 7. Prior to that, the 4-year-old colt won a second-level allowance at Gulfstream in a dead heat with Verkade. As a 3-year-old, Formal Attire started in last year's Florida Derby (gr. I), finishing sixth behind Empire Maker.

The Flying Zee Stable color bearer did post a workout Tuesday at Palm Meadows, going a half-mile in :48 3/5, but the bruise remains an issue according to Serpe.

"We've been dealing with this thing for the last two weeks," he said. "His last two races were really big, but we can't compromise his chances, plus he would have to go a mile and a quarter. It's not fair to your horse to do that if you're not 100 percent."

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