Rail Trip may go in San Carlos Handicap
The unbeaten 4-year-old gelding Rail Trip, mentioned by trainer Ron Ellis as a possibility for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7, could race next Saturday in Santa Anita's $150,000 Grade II San Carlos Handicap at seven furlongs.
Ellis is not sure he wants to subject Rail Trip, who has won his three career starts by a combined 12 1/2 lengths, to tough, seasoned handicap horses in his stakes debut. He'd be going against some top-notch sprinters in the San Carlos, most notably the ultra-impressive Georgie Boy, but it doesn't figure to be nearly the daunting task as the Big 'Cap.
Ellis says Rail Trip's connections have the gelding nominated to just about every big stake he's eligible to race in, so they can pick and choose their spots. No word yet on whether they were serious about the Dubai World Cup or the Godolphin Mile on March 28. We'll probably know more about that after next weekend if he runs in the San Carlos.
Meanwhile, Georgie Boy appears to be hitting full stride after a third-place finish in the opening-day Malibu Stakes and a win in the Sunshine Millions Sprint on Jan. 24. If he stays healthy, he'll be a major player in the Breeders' Cup Sprint if trainer Kathy Walsh elects to keep him running one turn.
Yeah, are they serious about the trip to the Dubai World Cup? There is no way in hell this horse should be sent to Dubai at this stage of his career.
Ing,
I'm thinking that now that the Big 'Cap is only a possibility because of concerns they might be rushing him a bit, the Rail Trip connections are not seriously thinking Dubai. You can't blame them for being excited about the horse, but this is a guy who should be brought along slowly so he's ready to fire on all cylinders during Breeders' Cup weekend in November if he is indeed as good as he's looked so far.