Passinetti Tuning for Whittingham, Cecil Says

San Juan Capistrano Handicap (gr. IT) winner Passinetti will likely make his next start in the $350,000 Charles H. Whittingham Memorial Handicap (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park, trainer Ben Cecil said.

The 7-year-old gelding worked five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 handily over the firm turf at Hollywood on Sunday with regular exercise rider David Meah in the saddle.

The Whittingham is a 1 ¼-mile turf test June 14.

"I think it's a good spot for him and he's training really well, so there's a very good chance he'll run in there," Cecil said. "We don't have a lot of options and that's a good spot."

Passinetti came back from a three-year layoff to win the San Juan Capistrano on closing day at Santa Anita April 20. Cecil originally thought the son of Slew o'Gold wouldn't run until the end of the Hollywood meet, but decided Passinetti was training well enough to try the Whittingham. Passinetti has won three of his 17 career starts for earnings of $387,976.

Cecil also sent Eclipse Award-winner Golden Apples out for a turf work Sunday and the 5-year-old mare went five furlongs in 1:02 3/5, also with Meah aboard. The Irish-bred daughter of Pivotal is still on target to make her 2003 debut in the John C. Mabee/Ramona Handicap (gr. I) at Del Mar in late July.

"So far, everything is progressing as planned for her," Cecil said.