Trainer Tony Dutrow is planning for the return of Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's graded winners The Big Beast (Yes It's True) and I Spent It (Super Saver). The Big Beast has been sidelined since winning the GI King's Bishop S. last August. The 4-year-old underwent surgery to remove a bone chip from an ankle. The “TDN Rising Star” worked a bullet three furlongs in :36.40 at Oaklawn Park Jan. 7.
“He's filled out,” Dutrow said of The Big Beast. “He's a big horse, but all athlete. Nothing bulky about him.”
The Big Beast is pointing towards the Apr. 9 GIII Count Fleet H., with an as-yet undetermined prep race beforehand.
I Spent It, co-owned by Three Chimneys and winner of last year's GII Saratoga Special, was second in the GI Hopeful S. and has not raced since finishing a well-beaten sixth in the Oct. 4 GI Champagne S. The $600,000 FTFMAR juvenile had a bone chip removed from his knee after the Champagne and has yet to return to the work tab, but Dutrow said he is “doing fantastic.”
Dutrow has a pair of fillies by GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, both owned by the Lieblongs, who may be heading for the Apr. 4 GIII Fantasy S. Embellish the Lace, who broke her maiden by 10 1/4 lengths at Parx Dec. 13, may go postward in an entry-level allowance at Oaklawn Saturday. The half-sister to GI Travers S. winner Afleet Express (Afleet Alex) worked four furlongs in :49.60 Tuesday. High Dollar Woman, an allowance winner at Parx Dec. 13, is expected to make her next start in the Jan. 31 Martha Washington S.
Also in the Dutrow shedrow, John Ed Anthony's Tekton (Bernardini), a maiden winner at Laurel Dec. 19, worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 at Oaklawn Tuesday. Out of graded stakes winner Touch Love (Not For Love), Tekton is a half to speedy multiple stakes winner Starfish Bay (Elusive Quality).
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