Ten Most Wanted Won't Make Strub Stakes

Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner Ten Most Wanted will not make his 4-year-old debut in the Feb. 7 Strub Stakes (gr. II) as originally expected, trainer Wally Dollase confirmed Friday.

The son of Deputy Commander, unraced since finishing eighth after a troubled trip in the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) – Powered by Dodge, won't be physically fit enough for the final leg of the historical three-race Strub Series, Dollase said, prompting him to look elsewhere.

"He's doing very well, about as good as a horse can do," Dollase said. "I'm just concerned that he won't be fit enough in time for the Strub. Everything's coming along nicely and he had a :59 and three (five-furlong) work the other day, but it just won't come together fast enough for the Strub."

Dollase is considering several options for Ten Most Wanted, chiefly the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) on Mar. 6 or the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 29. The Big 'Cap is a 1 ¼-mile main track test while the New Orleans 'Cap will be contested at nine furlongs.

"I'm considering both races, as well as a couple others, but those two primarily with the more probable one being the Big 'Cap," Dollase said. "I'd like to run him one time as a prep before so he'll be 100 percent ready so when that time gets close I'll look for a prep."

Ten Most Wanted, who also won the Illinois Derby (gr. II) and Super Derby (gr. II) last year, has banked $1,553,460 from a record of 11-4-3-1.

Dollase also said that Santa Ysabel (gr. III) winner A. P. Adventure is on schedule for her next start in the Feb. 15 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I). It's expected to be her first meeting with likely Eclipse champion Halfbridled.

"We're just keeping her happy now," Dollase said of the Bob and Beverly Lewis color bearer. "She'll be facing the big filly (Halfbridled) and has her work cut out for her, but I'm confident she'll run well."

The veteran conditioner also confirmed that A. P. Adventure has been nominated to the Triple Crown, "just in case."