North Pole © Benoit Photo

The 2-year-old colt North Pole – with a date next Monday in the Grade I, $250,000 Del Mar Futurity on his agenda -- worked five furlongs at Del Mar Monday at 12:45 p.m. covering the distance in 1:00.40 with jockey Umberto Rispoli in the tack.

The dark son of Pioneerof the Nile, a $1,050,000 purchase at Keeneland last September, had trainer Simon Callaghan looking on as he went through splits of :12.80, :24.80, :37.00 and :48.00 en route to his final time. He went out another furlong and registered a 1:14.60 gallop out time during a sunny afternoon with a fast track underneath him.

“Impressive drill,” offered Del Mar clocker Toby Turrell, who had his watch on the move. “He had his ears up and he looked to me like he’s ready to stretch out.”

North Pole finished second in his only start, a five and one-half furlong straight maiden race here on August 16 won by Wyfire. The Kentucky-bred is owned by Qatar Racing Limited and Three Chimneys Farm. Qatar Racing Limited, based in Suffolk, England, is the nom du course for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani. Three Chimneys, located in Midway, KY, is also the breeder of the colt.

The Del Mar Futurity will be the highlight of the Labor Day card that closes out the 2020 Del Mar summer race meeting.