The Lumber Guy looking to add another grade 1 to his name this year by winning the Malibu Stakes
Trainer Michael Hushion had his fun with the 3-year-old sprinter, The Lumber Guy, winning important Grade 1 race, and on top of that he turned in a game effort to finish second behind Grade 1 XpressBet Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner, Trinniberg.
However, the conditioner and the sprinter will part for the winter, as owner Barry K. Schwartz will send The Lumber Guy to trainer Neil Drysdale’s barn to run in the Santa Anita Park’s winter meet, and what better to start off a new relationship than going into a tough field that the Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu Stakes has assembled to be run over a distance of seven furlongs on 26 December, 2012, at the venue’s dirt course.
Bred in New York by Stonewall Farm, the son of Grand Slam showed potential from the beginning of his career, as defeated maidens at first asking at the Big A over 6 furlongs, and then went on to win the Miracle Wood Stakes at seven furlongs at Laurel Park.
Michael Hushion stretched the colt out to 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial only to find The Lumber Guy finish fifth to winner Gemologist, however, he was brilliant in the one-turn one mile Grade 2 Jerome Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack, where he defeated Brigand and covered the distance in 1 minute and 36.04 seconds.
Pointed toward the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park, and again at 1 1/8 miles, The Lumber Guy had his wheels come off as he finished sixth.
Though, he was recognized as the elite sprinter of the nation when he was brilliant in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes, and defeated Caixa Eletronica in second and Poseidon’s Warrior in third.
Even better was the run in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Both races were run over a distance of 6 furlongs, and the Malibu Stakes is run over seven furlongs, so the distance should be in his wheelhouse.
Drysdale got The Lumber Guy on 26 November, and since then he has turned in five workout sessions including a six furlong drill in 1 minute and 14 seconds on 20 December at Betfair Hollywood Park.
“Everything’s been very straightforward with him,” Drysdale said. “He’s a lovely horse – very attractive, well made. And he’s a happy horse.”
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