ARCADIA, Calif. - It may take a few days to finalize a short-term race goal for Balnikhov, who won the third stakes of his career in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields. The Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 29 or the Grade 3 Poker Stakes at a mile on turf at Belmont Park on June 10 are possibilities for the 4-year-old Balnikhov, who is part of trainer Phil D’Amato’s deep team of turf milers. On Saturday at Churchill Downs, D’Amato is scheduled to start Hong Kong Harry and Earls Court in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles. They are also candidates for the $500,000 Shoemaker Mile along with Gold Phoenix, who won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 4. :: Get ready for Santa Anita racing with DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports.  The Shoemaker Mile winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. With that roster, it would not be a surprise if D’Amato has multiple starters in the Shoemaker Mile. “We’ll have to play it by ear,” D’Amato said. Balnikhov is a late-running gelding who thrives in races at a mile. “He’ll come with an electric late kick,” D’Amato said. “He’ll give you a big last quarter.” In the $251,800 San Francisco Mile, Balnikhov closed from last in the final three furlongs to win by a nose as the 7-5 favorite, holding off a late threat from 51-1 Rio King. “That’s the way he likes to run,” D’Amato said. Umberto Rispoli rode Balnikhov, his fourth win on the Golden Gate Fields program. Owned by the partnership of Little Red Feather Racing, Old Bones Racing and Madaket Stable, Balnikhov has won 6 of 17 starts and earned $588,843. Balnikhov won the restricted Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar last July and the Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes at a mile on turf at Keeneland in October. Balnikhov nearly won his third stakes in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, a milestone achieved on Saturday. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.