Undefeated My Miss Aurelia, the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) winner and likely champion 2-year-old filly, has been given time off for a sore shin and probably won’t resume light training until February, co-owner George Bolton said Dec. 29.
Rather than immediately ship to California to be with trainer Steve Asmussen at Santa Anita, My Miss Aurelia was sent to Vinery in Ocala, Fla. for a period of rest. Her injury was not serious and did not require surgery, but depending on how quickly she returns to training, the daughter of Smart Strike may not make it back in time for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) on May 4.
“A lot of horses came out of that peanut butter racetrack at the Breeders’ Cup (with issues), and we decided to give her some R&R,” Bolton said. “It’s not a big deal; it’s not like it needs a screw and it’s not a tendon. It’s just a hot shin.
“Her schedule was always going to be late spring through October, so I’m not sure how much she’ll miss. We’ll bring her back into training when she is happy and healthy.
“The (Kentucky Oaks) could still be in the picture. We haven’t made that decision yet. I think what Steve, Barbara (Banke), and John (Moynihan) want to do is not have to commit to anything this early. We’d like to make the Oaks, but the targets are all the big races through the Breeders’ Cup. We hope to have a fresh and ready to go horse when we start up.
“We’re not dealing with a big schedule change. But her shin told us not to stick her on a plane and start working January 1 at Santa Anita. Does that mean we'll miss anything? I don’t know.”
My Miss Aurelia, who was bred by Banke’s Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, won all four races in 2011 including the Adirondack (gr. II) and Frizette (gr. I). She is expected to be named champion juvenile filly next month at the Eclipse Awards.
Bolton also said The Factor came out of his victory in the Dec. 26 Malibu (gr. I) in good shape and is likely headed to Dubai for the $2 million Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) on March 31. Bolton co-owns The Factor, a four-time graded stakes winner in 2011, with Fog City Stable.