Big Cazanova adds speed to Gold Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – The pace in the June 27 Gold Cup at Santa Anita will be legitimate, thanks to Big Cazanova. Trainer Peter Miller said the Grade 3-winning front-runner was on target for the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup, one of four horses Miller is considering for the race.

“Big Cazanova for sure and Finnegans Wake if he works well [Saturday],” Miller said when asked about his Gold Cup nominees. Plans for the other two nominees, Lideris and Poshsky, are undetermined.

Big Cazanova set a fast pace and tired to seventh in the Grade 2 Californian on March 30. It was his first start in two months.

The presence of Big Cazanova could derail plans for front-runner Moreno. Trainer Eric Guillot indicated this week he was reluctant to start Moreno against another horse with the same up-front style.