The Big Beast faces another tough task in Forego
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Big Beast will jump out of the frying pan and into the fire Saturday at Saratoga, coming off a heartbreaking setback at the hands of the red-hot Rock Fall in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt to meet Private Zone and 10 other top sprinters in the $700,000 Forego.
The seven-furlong, Grade 1 Forego drew a full and stellar field that also includes the millionaires Tamarkuz, Bourbon Courage, and Wildcat Red.
The Big Beast lost by the bob of a nose following a thrilling stretch-long duel with even-money favorite Rock Fall in the six-furlong Vanderbilt, a race trainer Tony Dutrow did not hesitate to call the best of the horse’s career.
“I feel fantastic about the Beast’s performance and his effort even though he did not win the Vanderbilt, and I definitely think it was his best race yet,” said Dutrow. “Now we meet Private Zone, who is a very, very good horse, especially at seven furlongs. I actually relish the opportunity to meet the very best because it really lets you know where you stand with your horse, especially if they are good enough and fortunate enough to win these types of races.”
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Private Zone is arguably the leader of the sprint division. He has won 2 of 4 starts this season, both victories coming at seven furlongs in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes and, more recently, the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint Championship.
“I think seven-eighths is definitely his best distance, and I don’t see anything faster than him in this field, so we’re just going to let him do his thing and go to the lead,” said trainer Jorge Navarro. “I watched The Big Beast train the other morning, and he looks really good, so I think he’s the horse to beat, although the way my horse is doing, they’re all going to really have to run to beat us.”
Tamarkuz figures to benefit from his U.S. debut, where he finished fourth, 1 1/4 lengths behind Private Zone, after making a middle move in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap.
Bourbon Courage makes his second start since being transferred to trainer Graham Motion’s barn earlier this year, while Wildcat Red pushed his lifetime earnings past $1 million with his victory Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park in the Teddy Drone Stakes.
Forego, Race 9
Key Contenders
Private Zone (Last 3 Beyers: 105-101-100)
◗ Has never raced at Saratoga but turned in a sensational 45.80-second half-mile work here last Saturday.
“He worked fast and did it easily, so I have no worries about him handling this racetrack,” said Navarro.
The Big Beast (Last 3 Beyers: 106-97-96)
◗ Dutrow said his one concern is whether his horse might bounce off such a hard race in the Vanderbilt.
“I have to be somewhat concerned, having done this all my life, off such a big effort four weeks ago whether he will react to something like that,” said Dutrow. “But he’s certainly shown us all the right signs since the race.”
Tamarkuz (Last 3 Beyers: 98-NA-NA)
◗ Looks like the best value play in this field and should be coming on strong while turning back to seven furlongs off a big effort in the Met Mile.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Tamarkuz. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 8-5-1-0 with a $4.37 ROI over the past five years going route to sprint on dirt at Saratoga following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Race Day. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 19-2-4-2 with a $0.40 ROI over the past five years going route to sprint on dirt at Saratoga following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan