Frankel's Euchre Set to Return in Native Diver

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With no grade I races scheduled for next weekend, trainer Bobby Frankel will have to wait before attempting to earn his 18th grade I win of the year. He will, though, have a big shot at picking up stakes win 49 of the year when he sends out Euchre in the $100,000 Native Diver Handicap (gr. III) Dec. 9.

Euchre will return from an extended layoff for the 1 1/8-mile Native Diver. Stronach Stable's 5-year-old Personal Flag gelding has been sidelined since winning the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (gr. III) in July.

"He had quarter cracks," explained Frankel.

Frankel has yet to saddle a Native Diver winner, though his Fighting Fit finished second in both 1983 and '84. Frankel will give a leg up to Garrett Gomez prior to the Native Diver.

Others likely for the race include supplemental nominee Momentum, Last Parade, Madraar, Penamacor, Spicy Stuff, Pie N Burger, and last year's third-place finisher Grey Memo.

The next chance for a grade I win for Frankel – who picked up his 17th grade I win Saturday at Hollywood Park six days after sweeping a pair of grade I turf events at the same track -- will come the following weekend. He will likely start Hollywood Prevue (gr. III) third-place finisher Labamta Babe in the Dec. 15 Hollywood Futurity (gr. I), and previous grade I winner You in the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) the following day.

Labamta Babe worked five furlongs Sunday, getting the distance in :59 4/5. Frizette Stakes (gr. I) winner You worked six furlongs in 1:14 2/5.

Likely Futurity starter Siphonic also worked Sunday. The David Hofmans trainee went seven furlongs in 1:26 3/5. Hollywood Prevue winner Fonz's was clocked in 1:13 3/5 for six furlongs.

The Thoroughbred Corp.'s Officer remains on the fence for the race and worked a mile Sunday in 1:37 1/5. Trainer Bob Baffert is reportedly more likely to wait for a California-bred restricted stakes race at Santa Anita. Baffert's Popular is likely for the Futurity, with Generous Stakes winner Mountain Rage labeled a strong possibility for the 1 1/16-mile race.

Sunday's workers likely to oppose You in the Starlet were Oak Leaf (gr. I) winner Tali'sluckybusride (six furlongs in 1:11 3/5) and The Thoroughbred Corp.'s Habibti (seven furlongs, 1:24 4/5).

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