Affluent Skips Phipps, Stays Home for A Gleam

Janis R. Whitham's four-time grade I winner Affluent will likely make her next start in the $250,000 A Gleam Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park on July 13, trainer Ron McAnally said after watching her work six furlongs in an easy 1:16 1/5 over the track on Thursday morning.

The 5-year-old mare was originally scheduled to run in Saturday's $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park, but was withdrawn from consideration earlier this week, according to McAnally. The A Gleam is a seven-furlong main track event for fillies and mares, three years old and upward.

"It's partly because of the weather, but the only group one she's won this year was at seven-eighths (the Jan. 25 Santa Monica Handicap at Santa Anita)," McAnally said. "I could have run her in both, but I would have had to rush back with her to make the race I really want to run her in. So we're going to stay here and point for that race at seven-eighths."

Affluent, a chestnut daughter of Affirmed, was fifth behind Horse of the Year Azeri in the Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. I) in her last start on May 24. From 22 career starts, Affluent has reached the winner's circle eight times, with five seconds and three thirds, for earnings of $1,467,651.