(From Emerald Downs)
Gallant Son, the dominant 2-year-old at Emerald Downs last season, continues to train well at Golden Gate Fields, according to trainer Frank Lucarelli.
The Gottstein Futurity winner worked five furlongs in 1:02 under Leslie Mawing Jan. 4, and Lucarelli and owner Chris Randall are looking at several options for their 3-year-old colt.
“He worked great,” Lucarelli said Jan. 7. “He went out in 1:15 for six furlongs, and I think he’s ready for a sprint right now.”
Lucarelli and Randall want to enter Gallant Son in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) at 1 1/8 miles at Golden Gate Fields Feb. 14. They would prefer Gallant Son had a prep race before then, and will nominate the colt to both the $100,000 San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) at one mile on Jan. 17, and the $70,000 San Pedro Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 19. Both of those races are at Santa Anita, where Gallant Son finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) in October.
Another possibility is an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 17.
Gallant Son, by Malabar Gold, is scheduled to have another five-furlong workout this weekend at Golden Gate. Lucarelli said that Mawing, who has ridden Gallant Son in all six of his races, would have the mount when Gallant Son returns to action.
Lucarelli, meanwhile, remains red-hot in Northern California and began the week just five wins away from 1,000 for his career.