BC Sprint win puts Mitole solidly in Horse of the Year conversation

ARCADIA, Calif. – After watching Mitole cap off his stellar 2019 campaign with a 1 1/4-length victory over Shancelot in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint, trainer Steve Asmussen must now digest the fact his Horse of the Year candidate’s racing career is over.

Mitole, who closed out the year with six wins in seven starts and four Grade 1 victories at distances ranging from six furlongs to one mile, will begin stud duties next season at Spendthrift Farm. He has been campaigned throughout his career by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt.

“I haven’t really thought about the fact this was the last time we’ll run him,” Asmussen said by phone on Sunday. “I don’t want to think about it yet. Our focus was the Breeders’ Cup, and I want to take a little time first to enjoy what he has accomplished.”

Asmussen said Mitole came out of the Sprint “in very good shape” and that he is scheduled to return to his barn at Churchill Downs on Monday.

“I have had the opportunity to watch the replay multiple times and I am extremely proud of his performance,” said Asmussen. “He is really an elite talent. There is no replacement for him.”

With a near unblemished record in 2019 and quality victories that along with the Sprint also included a hard-fought triumph over an classy field going a mile in the Metropolitan Handicap this spring at Belmont Park, Mitole is definitely in the mix for Horse of the Year honors along with Bricks and Mortar and Classic winner Vino Rosso. Mitole is certain to be voted champion sprinter.

“It’s a hard topic for somebody like me to talk about,” said Asmussen. “Being in the mix in years past, with Curlin or Rachel or whoever they were against, I didn’t want to hear any negative opinions. All I know is he is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, so let the chips fall where they may. We know he deserves to be in the mix, the quality of the races he ran this year and the style in which he did it isn’t going to be duplicated any time soon. There are obviously other horses to be considered as well. Whether he’s worthy of a gold trophy? We both know he is.”