The connections of Rothschild , as impressive a maiden winner as they come in late summer at Del Mar, hope a change in surface could reignite the brilliance the colt displayed when dominating his second outing in the Dec. 3 Cecil De Mille Stakes (G3T) for 2-year-olds going a mile on the lawn.
Rothschild never fired in his next two starts after his sparkling 5 1/4-length maiden romp on the main track. The son of Uncle Mo was sixth in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and fifth in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1), leading trainer Tim Yakteen to return to square one with the $700,000 acquisition.
Ramon Vasquez has the call and breaking from the one hole, it’s likely the pair will make a move for the early lead.
The $100,000 Cecil De Mille also lured Qatar Golden Mile Stakes winner Lord Bullingdon . Trained by Michael McCarhty, the Lord Nelson colt turned heads on Breeders’ Cup Future Stars Friday with a sweeping last-to-first move in the Golden Mile at Santa Anita Park. The victory was the first for Lord Bullingdon, who had finished second to Endlessly as a maiden in September in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes over this turf course.
Partnered with Umberto Rispoli, Lord Bullingdon carries the high weight of 124 pounds for the Cecil De Mille, four more pounds than Rothschild or his seven other opponents.
