2021 Breeders' Cup Classic: Idol out, field down to nine
DEL MAR, Calif. – The field for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Del Mar was reduced to nine on Sunday morning when Idol, the Santa Anita Handicap winner earlier this year, was ruled out of the race by trainer Richard Baltas, who was dissatisfied with the way Idol cooled out following a workout on Sunday.
“He worked fine, but he came back a little tight behind,” said Baltas, who said Idol had displayed similar minor soreness – “He tied up a little” -- after his previous work. The combination told him what to do.
“He’s going to be fine, but he’s not going to make the race,” Baltas said. “He might need six weeks off.”
Idol, working in company, traveled five furlongs in 1:02.40. Of the 53 works at Del Mar on Sunday, it was the only one designated as breezing, signifying how easily he went. The other 52 works were listed as handily.
But Idol has been racing against the clock – he’s had just one race, a sixth-place finish in the Awesome Again on Oct. 2 at Santa Anita – since the Santa Anita Handicap in March, and the bid to make the Classic proved too challenging.
Also on Sunday here at Del Mar, Art Collector worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds for trainer Bill Mott.
“He went well,” said Mott, who has been impressed with the surface here, calling the main track “very forgiving.”
The field for the 1 1/4-mile Classic is headed by the Brad Cox-trained pair of Knicks Go and Essential Quality, both of whom turned in their final drills on Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Essential Quality, working in company, was timed in 59.40 seconds, the fastest of 22 works at the distance. Knicks Go, who went solo, received a time of 1:01.20.
Both Essential Quality and Knicks Go were scheduled to fly to California on Monday.
At Santa Anita, Express Train worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds for John Shirreffs.
Entries for the Classic were due Monday morning, with posts drawn Monday afternoon. The field was expected to be Art Collector (Mike Smith the rider), Essential Quality (Luis Saez), Express Train (Victor Espinoza), Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat), Knicks Go (Joel Rosario), Max Player (Ricardo Santana Jr.), Medina Spirit (John Velazquez), Stilleto Boy (Kent Desormeaux), and Tripoli (Irad Ortiz Jr.).