Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) winner Creative Cause , prepping for his expected 3-year-old debut in the upcoming San Vicente Stakes (gr. II), worked six furlongs handily on Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track Feb. 4 in 1:13 4/5.
The San Vicente, which is Feb. 19, will be contested at seven furlongs on Santa Anita's main track.
Trained by Mike Harrington for owner Heinz Steinmann, Creative Cause has not been out since finishing third in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs. He was defeated by one length by Hansen in the BC Juvenile.
Prior to that, Creative Cause posted a 3 1/4-length triumph in Santa Anita's Norfolk Oct. 1, which was his first start around two turns. He also was second in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) last season after winning Del Mar's Best Pal Stakes (gr. II).
Creative Cause's work was the sixth fastest of 17 at the distance over Hollywood's Cushion Track.
The gray/roan colt is a son of Giant's Causeway out of the Siberian Summer mare Dream of Summer, winner of the 2005 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I). Creative Cause was weighted at 124 pounds on The Jockey Club's recently released Experimental Free Handicap, two fewer than the top-weighted Hansen and Union Rags .
Creative Cause, bred in Kentucky by James C. Weigel, has a 3-1-1 lifetime record in five starts with earnings of $521,000. He has had six published workouts at Hollywood since Dec. 30.
Elsewhere on the 3-year-old campaign in Southern California, impressive Sham Stakes (gr. III) winner Out of Bounds remains on course for the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 10, trainer Eoin Harty said.
“He’s had three works since we ran him (in the Sham on Jan. 7) and he’s got four more until he runs again,” said Harty, who professes not to be caught up with "Derby fever" at this early juncture.
“It’s a long time between now and May,” he said.
The Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) is May 5.