Buffy, 'Kat' Work Toward San Clemente

Brian Allen and Stronach Stables' Grade II winner Buffythecenterfold will likely make her turf debut in the $150,000 San Clemente Handicap (gr. IIT) on Aug. 2 at Del Mar, trainer Mel Stute said. The daughter of Capote worked six furlongs in 1:16 2/5 around the dogs over Del Mar's firm grass course on Thursday with regular jockey Victor Espinoza aboard.

"I think she went very well," Stute said. "After she was done she wanted to go faster instead of pull up, so that's a good sign. If she doesn't run in the San Clemente, she'll have to sprint against older horses because all the 3-year-old fillies stakes here are on the turf."

Buffythecenterfold last raced on July 12 where she finished a troubled sixth in the Azalea Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Calder Race Course.

"She didn't get the kind of trip she likes (in the Azalea) so we can throw that one out," Stute said.

Buffythecenterfold won last year's Landaluce Stakes (gr. III) and Sorrento Stakes (gr. II) as well as this year's Santa Paula and Railbird Stakes (gr. III). From a career line of 10-5-2-0, the Kentucky-bred has earned $380,575.

Also working on the turf Thursday in preparation for the San Clemente was Manhattan Beach Stakes winner Katdogawn, who went a half-mile in :52 1/5 with jockey Julie Krone aboard. The Ford, Chuchna and Pearson colorbearer finished a fast-closing second in the Flawlessly Stakes on July 6 at Hollywood Park in her last start.

"She's doing very well," trainer Jim Cassidy said of the English-bred daughter of Bahhare. "Mike (Smith) rode her last time and if he really wants to ride her again, I'll just put Julie on my other filly, Star Vega, in the race."

Star Vega, who is also owned by the partnership of Ford, Cuchna and Pearson, won the Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita in April and was ninth in the American Oaks at Hollywood Park on July 5 in her last start. Cassidy said the chestnut daughter of Blue Ocean will have her final San Clemente grass workout on Saturday.

Other notable turf workers Thursday included Stars and Stripes Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) winner Ballingarry, who went five furlongs in 1:02 3/5; and Senor Swinger, upset at odds of 1-9 in his last start in the July 12 Virginia Derby, who went a half-mile in a bullet :49 with regular jockey Dana Barnes aboard.

"I don't know where he'll run next," Baffert said of the gray son of El Prado. "Probably here (at Del Mar). We'll most likely point him for the Del Mar Derby."

The Del Mar Derby is a Grade II test at 1 1/8-miles on the turf and will be run for the 59th time on Saturday, September 6.