Big and Classy the horse for course but tries new distance in Broome

Big and Classy has won seven of his last eight starts at Gulfstream Park and will attempt to conquer a new distance Saturday in the track’s $60,000 Edwin T. Broome.

The overnight handicap will be Big and Classy’s first start at a mile. The one-turn race on the main track has drawn a field of six. The group includes millionaire Long Range Toddy, who is co-highweighted with Big and Classy at 123 pounds.

Big and Classy last raced Aug. 5 and closed from next-to-last to win a seven-furlong allowance by 2 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream. The Beyer Speed Figure of 91 that he earned is the best last-race number in the Broome. Big and Classy will break from the rail when he makes the distance move Saturday.

“We all think it’s going to be good,” trainer Bobby Dibona said. “You never know until you actually do it. The way he broke not so great last time and circled the field to win going away, it didn’t look like a mile is going to be a problem.”

Big and Classy has been winning at Gulfstream on a regular basis since Feb. 1, when he took a $20,000 conditioned claiming sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta. He won for the same price one start later March 16 and was claimed by Keith Johnston.

Big and Classy continued his streak for his new trainer, Dibona, by winning a $50,000 starter allowance April 15, a first-level allowance for Florida-breds on April 29, a $20,000 starter allowance May 27, and a first-level allowance June 10. From there, Big and Classy tasted defeat for the first time this year when second in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint on July 1. However, he earned a career-high Beyer of 95 and was back in the win column one start later, in the seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream.

“His name says it all,” Dibona said Wednesday. “He’s quite a horse. Trying to keep the form like this isn’t easy. It’s very difficult. We’re staying with the program. He was coming off the track jumping and playing this morning. He’s feeling good. We’re ready to go.”

Leonel Reyes has been aboard Big and Classy for his last four starts and has the mount once again. Big and Classy is breaking from the rail for the first time this year, but won from the two-hole in April. He brings tactical speed into the Broome.

“He’ll do whatever you want him to do,” Dibona said. “If we felt there’s not enough speed and we want to take it to them, we can. If it sets up to get a stalking spot, we can. He’s a very versatile horse.”

Long Range Toddy is coming off a 2 1/4-length win over allowance rivals at seven furlongs July 16 at Gulfstream. The Grade 2 winner earned a Beyer of 89.

The Skipper Too, who is weighted at 122, is cutting back from a fourth-place finish at 1 3/4 miles in the $150,000 Birdstone on July 27 at Saratoga.

The Broome goes as the fifth race Saturday.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.