Ferdinand Leaves Little Doubt He’s Ready to Go : Derby Winner Is Expected to Return to Races in Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita

Horses can’t talk, but Ferdinand has still been telling trainer Charlie Whittingham that he’s ready to return to the races.

The other morning at Hollywood Park, Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand worked six furlongs in an exceptional 1:10 1/5. That’s the kind of time that wins most races at that distance.

Whittingham has been paying attention. But, typically, he’s in no hurry. It’s beginning to look as though Ferdinand’s first race since this year’s Triple Crown series will be the $100,000 Malibu Stakes on opening day at Santa Anita next Friday.

“It’s not his distance (seven furlongs),” Whittingham said. “He likes to go much farther. But it’s a start.”

Ferdinand has run less than a mile only twice, in his debut at Del Mar in September of 1985 and in another race against maidens when he was third at Santa Anita a month later. Ferdinand broke his maiden going a mile at Santa Anita in November of ’85.

The Malibu is on dirt, the same surface on which Ferdinand has run all 12 of his races. Whittingham, who envisions a grass campaign for the grandson of Northern Dancer before he’s retired, had hoped to try Ferdinand on the turf before the Hollywood Park season ends next Wednesday, but numerous breakdowns on the grass course at the Inglewood track have discouraged the trainer.

“I’m a little leery of trying him on the grass here,” Whittingham said. “They’ve run a lot of grass races here this season, and there’s been hardly any rain and it’s taken its toll. I just don’t want to take the chance.”

After winning the Derby, Ferdinand became the only horse to compete in all three Triple Crown races this year, finishing second to Snow Chief in the Preakness and running third behind Danzig Connection and Johns Treasure in the Belmont Stakes.

Snow Chief, who has recovered from knee surgery, may be matched against Ferdinand again in the Malibu. Snow Chief has a workout scheduled for Sunday, and trainer Mel Stute’s son, Gary, who is an assistant for the stable, said Friday that there was an 80% chance that the colt will run in the Malibu.

The Snow Chief-Ferdinand rivalry is likely to continue at Santa Anita, since the $150,000 San Fernando and the $500,000 Strub could be on both horses’ schedules.

The San Fernando and the Strub are restricted to 4-year-olds, and Whittingham’s grass plans for Ferdinand can be put on hold until those rich dirt races are out of the way.

Ferdinand was scheduled for a rest after the Belmont, and when he developed soreness in the upper part of one of his rear legs, Whittingham decided that he’d rather have a fresh 4-year-old than run Ferdinand this fall.

Ferdinand has earned $909,378 this year--about two-thirds of that total for winning the Derby--and that has pushed him over the $1-million mark for his career.

As far as the Triple Crown is concerned, though, Ferdinand came along a year too soon. Next year, as long as there is no Triple Crown winner--a sweep will be worth $5 million--the horse that runs in all three races and accumulates the most points for high finishes will earn a $1-million bonus. The bonus would have been Ferdinand’s this year.

If he lives up to Whittingham’s expectations, though, Ferdinand may be good for an extra million, anyway.

Horse Racing Notes

Charlie Whittingham is starting two horses--Reloy and Infinidad--in Sunday’s $100,000 Dahlia Handicap at Hollywood Park. Bobby Frankel, who will saddle Aberuschka for the 1 1/16-mile turf stake for fillies and mares, sees Reloy and An Empress as the horses to beat. Aberuschka ran second, and Reloy, in only his second American start, was third in the Matriarch Nov. 23. Auspiciande, who was nominated for the Dahlia, ran instead as the favorite in the $150,000 California Jockey Club Handicap last Saturday at Bay Meadows and finished next to last. . . . The 1-2-3 finishers at Bay Meadows--Solva, Kraemer and Bonne Ile--had also been nominated for the Dahlia. . . . The Dahlia field, in post-position order, consists of Antartica, Tax Dodge, An Empress, Reloy, Brigade Special, Aberuschka and Infinidad. Aberuschka is the high weight at 122, which is four pounds more than Reloy.

Brigade Special will be ridden by Caroline Lee, this year’s top apprentice in Europe. . . . Frankel, who trains Solva, will send out Al Mamoon in the $300,000 Bay Meadows Handicap Saturday. The 11-horse field also includes the three-horse Whittingham entry of Palace Music, Swink and Strawberry Road II, plus Silveyville, who was second to Drumalis in the race a year ago, and Spellbound, winner of a division of the Hollywood Derby at 87-1.