Options Open for Get Her Number

Gary Barber's Get Her Number (Dialed In), off since winning the GI American Pharoah S. last September, continued to work towards his comeback with a four-furlong drill in :49.80 (1/1) at San Luis Rey Training Center Monday. While his next start has yet to be confirmed, it could come as soon as next Saturday's GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Park.

“I'm happy with the work and he's doing very well,” trainer Peter Miller said Monday afternoon. “We are just deciding whether to put him on the plane Wednesday for the Rebel or there is a possibility of training up to the [Apr. 3 GI] Santa Anita Derby. We have a lot of options. We are just going to sleep on it tonight and then pow-wow tomorrow with the ownership group. Then make a decision and live with the consequences.”

Get Her Number, a $45,000 purchase at last year's OBS Spring Sale, opened his career with a win over five furlongs on the turf at Del Mar in August and he set the pace before settling for fourth in the Sept. 7 Del Mar Juvenile Turf. He was making his first start on dirt when he scored a 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah, but was sidelined after that effort.

“He's definitely more mature,” Miller said of the colt's progression from two to three. “He's a little bigger and stronger. He was a little bit nervous as a 2-year-old and he's settled down some. So we are pleased with the horse, we're just trying to figure out the best thing to do with him.”

While Miller agreed it can be frustrating to have a Grade I winning 2-year-old in the barn as the Derby trail heats up all around him, the trainer said he was content to keep his options open.

“The Derby has never been my primary goal with any horse,” Miller said. “It's just trying to do the right thing and if it falls in place, great, and if not, we can look at the [May 15 GI] Preakness S. or we can look elsewhere.”