Trainer Mark Glatt is weighing his options for the promising Judge Miller (Curlin).
The lightly raced 4-year-old, a jaw-dropping winner while making his route debut in an optional claimer at Santa Anita Feb. 24, has been nominated to Oaklawn's $600,000 GIII Essex H. and the $500,000 GII New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds. Both races will be contested at 1 1/8 miles and are slated for Saturday, Mar. 23.
“He's nominated to a couple of stakes coming up, but I don't know what we're doing with him yet for certain,” Glatt said.
“We're on the fence as to whether we take the next little step before we jump into the bigger stuff or whether or not it's time to go ahead and step into bigger and better things.”
Glatt added, “He's doing terrific.”
Judge Miller, a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Muir Hut Stables and a full-brother to MGISW Clairiere, has been perfect in a pair of attempts since kicking off his career belatedly with a second-place finish as the 3-2 favorite going six furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 19.
The blaze-faced chestnut ran hard every step of the way and graduated in game fashion at second asking going seven furlongs at Santa Anita Dec. 26. He equaled the year's top Beyer Speed Figure of 105 (Nysos, National Treasure, Saudi Crown, Senor Buscador and Skelly) while putting on a show winning by 11 lengths going a two-turn mile in Arcadia last time.
The Stonestreet-bred Judge Miller, a son of leading sire Curlin produced by three-time Grade I winner Cavorting (Bernardini), returned to the worktab with a four-furlong move in :50.40 (88/102) Mar. 10.
“I think the sky's the limit,” Glatt said. “He would've gotten started earlier than he did had it not been for a foot abscess that took quite some time to get right last summer. He probably would've debuted in the summer at Del Mar versus the fall. For his age and everything, he's a little bit behind the eight ball from a seasoning standpoint, but he's a very talented horse that's gonna run as far as they ever want to go.”
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