"There's some heat and some filling there," Cecil said. "I don't want to do anything to jeopardize him or a chance that he'll be back. Right now he's not training and is just walking while we keep an eye on that area."
Passinetti came back from a three-year layoff to win the Capistrano on closing day at Santa Anita April 20. The son of Slew o'Gold had been retired in 1999, but was brought back into training in late 2002 after being gelded and spending two years in a field, rewarding his connections with his first career grade I victory. Passinetti has captured three of his 17 career starts for earnings of $387,976.
"I'm just going to take all the time he needs because he's been too good to me," Cecil said. "And if he never makes it back at the very least I'll have a great pony because he's a very cool horse."
Cecil, on his way to home to England for a week of racing at Royal Ascot, advised that Tanaka's champion Golden Apples, "will definitely be ready for Del Mar."
The 5-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Pivotal worked a bullet six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 over Hollywood Park's firm turf course Sunday with regular exercise rider David Meah aboard.
"In a word, awesome," Meah said following the drill.
Golden Apples is being pointed to the The John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. IT), run prior to last year as the Ramona Handicap, which is a nine-furlong turf test for fillies and mares set for July 23 at Del Mar.
"She's still a little light, but she'll fill out a little more," Cecil said. "But she'll be ready for the (Mabee)."
Golden Apples has banked $1,621,787 from a career line of 15-6-5-2. In her championship season last year, the bay mare won the Beverly D Stakes (gr. IT), Yellow Ribbon Invitational Handicap (gr. IT) and Santa Ana Handicap (gr. IIT) and also placed in the John C. Mabee/Ramona, Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) and Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIT).
