INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Mr. Hot Stuff has emerged from his 15th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby last weekend in good condition and is being considered for races on both coasts, trainer Eoin Harty said Thursday.
Owned by WinStar Stable, Mr. Hot Stuff is with Harty’s stable at Keeneland. He could be sent to California for an allowance race or New York for the Belmont Stakes on June 6. Harty said he will assess the colt’s condition before finalizing plans.
Mr. Hot Stuff, a 28-1 longshot in the Kentucky Derby, finished 23 lengths behind upset winner Mine That Bird. Mr. Hot Stuff was 18th for the first half-mile and was four wide on the final turn before passing a few rivals.
Harty said Mr. Hot Stuff emerged from the race “a little muddy, but none worse for the wear.”
The Kentucky Derby was Mr. Hot Stuff’s first start on a dirt surface. He had made seven starts on synthetic tracks in California, including a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby last month. The Kentucky Derby was Mr. Hot Stuff’s third consecutive stakes appearance. He was third in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes in his stakes debut in February.
In the Santa Anita Derby on April 4, Mr. Hot Stuff finished two lengths behind Pioneerof the Nile, who was second in the Kentucky Derby.
Harty said Mr. Hot Stuff will not start again on a sloppy track, which is what the colt encountered in the Kentucky Derby.
“He seemed to struggle,” Harty said.
