Trainer Dale Romans sent Arlington Million (gr. IT) winner Little Mike and stablemate Silver Max through works at Churchill Downs Sept. 22, preparing the turf contenders for upcoming starts in New York and Kentucky.
Little Mike, owned by Priscilla Vaccarezza, worked five furlongs in 1:03 2/5 in preparation for the Sept. 29 Joe Hirsch Invitational Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Belmont Park.
The 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding by Spanish Steps won the Million Aug. 18 for Romans after finishing third in the June 30 Shoemaker Mile (gr. IT) at Betfair Hollywood Park. He also counts the May 5 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (gr. IT) at Churchill among his three season victories; at the beginning of the year he started out with a win in the Florida Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Mark Bacon and Dana Wells' Silver Max, winner of the July 21 Virginia Derby (gr. IIT) but fifth in the Aug. 18 Secretariat (gr. IT) last out, worked a half-mile in :48 1/5 and galloped out five-eighths in 1:02 in preparation for the Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) at Keeneland Oct. 6.
The 3-year-old son of Badge of Silver carried a six-race win streak into the Secretariat, including the American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) at Churchill, the Transylvania Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland, the Arlington Classic Stakes at Arlington Park, and the Oliver Stakes at Indiana Downs.
