CashCall Futurity (gr. I) winner Pioneerof the Nile remains on target for his 3-year-old debut on Feb. 7 after turning in a bullet five-furlong drill of :57 3/5 over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride track on the morning of Jan. 11.
Ahmed Zayat's homebred son of Empire Maker is pointed to the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles. Joe Steiner was aboard Pioneerof the Nile, who worked in company with stabemate Riley Tudor for trainer Bob Baffert. Riley Tudor was given the same workout time.
“I got him in :58 and change,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He’s doing well.”
Private clocker Toby Turrell was a little more effusive, saying, “To say Pioneerof the Nile is stepping forward would be an understatement. The work was incredible. Steiner never moved on him.”
With Midshipman in Dubai and Street Hero retired after an injury in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), Pioneerof the Nile is regarded by many as the leading 3-year-old prospect on the West Coast.
Pioneerof the Nile won Hollywood Park's 1 1/16-mile CashCall Futurity on Dec. 20 as a heavy favorite in his first start for Baffert. He held off the surprising I Want Revenge by a nose. Pioneerof the Nile has won two of five starts with earnings of $544,200.
The colt began his career in the barn of Bill Mott, breaking his maiden on grass. He finished fifth, 2 3/4 lengths behind the victorious Midshipman, in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Pioneerof the Nile won the CashCall Futurity last month at Hollywood Park.
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