10/01/2012 5:31PM

Belmont Park: Two Breeders' Cup options for The Lumber Guy

By David Grening
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Barbara D. Livingston
The Lumber Guy wins the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park, earning a fees-paid berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Though he earned an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint by virtue of his victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Vosburgh, The Lumber Guy is being considered for both the $1.5 million Sprint and the $1 million Dirt Mile, trainer Mike Hushion said.

Hushion said he and owner Barry Schwartz would size up the competition for both races before making a definitive decision.

The Lumber Guy is 4 for 5 in one-turn races, his only loss coming in the Peter Pan at 1 1/8 miles. Obviously, the purse of the Sprint being 50 percent greater is attractive, but that race features defending sprint champion Amazombie on his home course.

Conversely, there does not appear to be a standout in the Dirt Mile, but that race is run around two turns this year.

“I guess the Mile would enhance his value as a stallion, but he’s already proven he can go a mile in the Jerome,” Hushion said.

Jersey Town will be among the favorites in the Dirt Mile after his 3 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Kelso. That was his first win since the 2010 Cigar Mile.

Perl More than 1 year ago
He belongs in the Sprint. That was a nice professional victory the other day. Stalked the pace, pounced and easily held the big closer safe.
Thomas Cook More than 1 year ago
Agreed. This colt was thought to be talented enough to win some classics. But he is a force in sprints. Reminds me of Cherokee Run. Frank Alexander got him to win Derby Trial.. Then shortened him up and he won BC Sprint. Sad my old boss retired this year. What a horseman.
Andrew More than 1 year ago
The Lumber Guy is meant to go, and go fast. The versatility he showed in the Vosburgh by coming a bit off the pace was nice to see, but it doesn't seem indicative of his preferred style. The last thing he needs is to be battling Shackleford for the lead around 2 turns in the Dirt Mile. 1 turn in the Sprint, however, on that fast Santa Anita track and I'd give him a legit shot...
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
Im pretty sure that no horse who has ever even as much as ran in the BC Dirt Mile has won an Eclipe Award.
Thomas Cook More than 1 year ago
He' bred to sprint... Grand Slam. And runs best in sprints. Plenty of pace to close on. The mile is not for him.
Steve More than 1 year ago
Caleb's posse was the same. Ran great at short distances and duds in routes just like the Lumber guy. Like Calebs Posse, it's not like he hasn't run long beforehand. He just hasn't run that well going long. Lumber guy has already won at a mile to boot. He has a far more likely chance of getting a piece of the Mile than he does in the sprint, where Amazombie, Roman Threat, and Emcee are expected to dominate. The Dirt Mile looks far weaker. THe likely favorite looks like Shackleford, who's gonna be far from a heavy favorite.
BrandonLayer More than 1 year ago
Yeah. Why go to the Breeders Cup and face a quality field when you can face a weak one. The Dirt Mile always has a mediocre field and doesn't belong.
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
Who do you think won last years BC Dirt mille at churchill? Calebs Posse..going away he won over Shackleford.
Dan Cronin More than 1 year ago
There is no way this owner and trainer are that stupid if he goes in the mile he will run last. Everyone knows the mile is for turnbacks, the turnbacks have won every single running and will again, any horse stretching out to mile will get swallowed. He must run in the sprint and the BC needs to dump the mile its silly.
chad mc rory More than 1 year ago
Dirt Mile... Where else?
BrandonLayer More than 1 year ago
This is an example of why I don't like the Dirt Mile. It takes away from the Sprint and sometimes Classic
Steve More than 1 year ago
it's a good race. Horses that have no chance in the Sprint and Classic get a chance at the intermediate distance. Mile races also have furious stretch runs (that's why the Met Mile is almost always a big event)
BrandonLayer More than 1 year ago
Its for horses not fast enough to win the sprint and not good enough to win the Classic. If you look back at past fields and winners you'll see that it doesn't attract the best. The Met Mile is overrated too. There's a reason we have an Eclipse for sprinter and not intermediate runner. Either your really fast or you can go the distance. There is no in between. Has a Dirt Mile winner ever won an Eclipse?
Big Jeff More than 1 year ago
Dr. Fager?
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
They didn't even have a Breeders Cup when Dr. Fager ran. I'm talking about Breeders Cup Dirt Mile winners. How many horses that ever even RAN in a BC Dirt Mile have ever won an Eclipse?
Andrew More than 1 year ago
The Dirt Mile is obviously less prestigious in comparison to the Sprint and the Classic. And, that is accurately reflected in the lesser purse. However, to say that the Dirt Mile takes away from the Sprint and Classic is a bit of a stretch. Typically, owners and trainers know what their horses do best and put them in a proper spot to display their talent. Typically, I don't want to see any horse that participates in the Dirt Mile in the Sprint or Classic. Furthermore, the Dirt Mile is undoubtedly, a Grade I caliber race that's great for viewing and betting: I'm glad it's here. With all that said, should The Lumber Guy go to the Dirt Mile, I think it would be one of the rare instances where the connections of a horse is making a big mistake on Breeder's Cup Day. I would therefore agree that in this instance, the Sprint would suffer a bit from his defection.