Preparing for his 3-year-old debut in the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II), early Triple Crown contender Creative Cause drilled six furlongs in a bullet 1:11 3/5 at Hollywood Park Feb. 12.
The seven-furlong San Vicente is Feb. 19.
Heinz Steinmann's Creative Cause produces the fastest workout of 17 at the distance over Hollywood's Cushion Track.
“He worked very nice,” trainer Mike Harrington said. “He seems to be coming up to the race fine.”
Creative Cause has not been out since he ran third in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs, losing by one length to the victorious Hansen.
The gray/roan son of Giant's Causeway out of grade I winning mare Dream of Summer won three of five starts during his juvenile campaign, including the Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) and the Best Pal Stakes (gr. II). He also ran second in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) while earning a total of $521,000.
Creative Cause has been working smartly for his return. He also turned in a bullet six-furlong move in 1:11 3/5 Jan. 28, one of seven published drills he has posted at Hollywood since Dec. 30.
“It looks like he could be a little fresh coming off a layoff, but he’s a great horse and I love to ride him," said jockey Joel Rosario. "His Breeders’ Cup race was a good one. I was impressed with it. Maybe he’s the right horse for the Derby, who knows?”
In other San Vicente news, Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) winner Drill worked five furlongs on Santa Anita’s main track Sunday in 1:02. Trainer Bob Baffert was non-committal on whether the son of Lawyer Ron would run.
Also at Santa Anita, promising San Pedro Stakes winner Midnight Transfer worked five furlongs :59 2/5 for trainer Carla Gaines.
