2021 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Life Is Good was 'what we expected,' Pletcher says
DEL MAR, Calif. – Life Is Good was full of energy Saturday afternoon when crushing his rivals in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar, and he was his usual, good-feeling self on Sunday morning, trainer Todd Pletcher said.
“He’s very good this morning. I’m happy with the way he looks,” Pletcher said at his temporary barn office at Del Mar.
Life Is Good got a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 109 for his romping win, his first in a Grade 1 race.
Pletcher said he watched the race replay a number of times Saturday night, “and I was more impressed every time I watched it,” he said.
“They took it to him,” Pletcher said. “He won geared down. Galloped out big, still full of run. I was hopeful he’d run like that. It’s what we expected, watching him train.”
Pletcher said Life Is Good would head this week to Kentucky for “a short break” at WinStar Farm, which co-owns Life Is Good with China Horse Club. “Then we’ll discuss future plans,” Pletcher said.
Pletcher said that prior to the Dirt Mile, the intention was to race Life Is Good at age 4, and for him to make his next start in the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park.
Ginobili, who finished second, was in good order Sunday morning, according to trainer Richard Baltas, who said he and owner Nick Cosato of Slam Dunk Racing had yet to decide what immediate plans were for Ginobili.
“We ran into a really good horse. That horse was super impressive,” Baltas said of Life Is Good. “I’m proud of my horse. He ran well.”
Silver State, who finished fifth, is heading to Claiborne Farm to begin stud duty.
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Snapper Sinclair, who finished sixth, will stay in training, according to owner Jeff Bloom.
“Back to Kentucky and re-group,” Bloom said.
Scott Blasi, the top assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, said he’d like to put Snapper Sinclair “in bubble wrap until Kentucky Downs,” where Snapper Sinclair has earned a significant portion of his $1.8 million in career earnings.
Silver State and Snapper Sinclair are scheduled to leave California early Wednesday morning.