Big Cazanova eyes Breeders' Cup Classic

When Big Cazanova went to New York last month for the Jockey Club Gold Cup, trainer Peter Miller was hoping to learn just how far the South American import had progressed. But Miller said he never got the chance to find out, and he’s willing to try once more, this time on racing’s biggest late-season stage.

Miller said that Big Cazanova is under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, with the BC Dirt Mile also in the mix. Big Cazanova had set track records at Del Mar for one mile and 1 1/8 miles prior to going to New York for the Gold Cup but faded after setting the pace under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. He crossed the wire eighth in the Gold Cup but was moved up to seventh on the disqualification of Moreno for interfering with Wicked Strong nearing the far turn.

The incident with Wicked Strong, and the resulting injury to jockey Rajiv Maragh, was the most noticeable incident in the strangely run race. But Miller was left puzzled about Ortiz’s handling of Big Cazanova, believing the rider simply gave up on the horse at the quarter pole.

“We weren’t happy with the effort of the rider in New York,” Miller said. “I called the stewards, and Ortiz told them the horse was lugging out. But I didn’t see that at all. It was all very strange. Thank God the horse is good.”

Big Cazanova has returned to Southern California and is training at San Luis Rey Downs, a training facility in northern San Diego County where Miller keeps many of his horses. Miller said Big Cazanova deserves a chance against the nation’s current crop of older horses.

“I think it’s a pretty average group of older horses,” he said.

Big Cazanova was bred in Argentina. His sire, Giant’s Causeway, is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup, but Big Cazanova was not. Therefore, a $100,000 payment would have to be made before pre-entry day Oct. 20 for him to join the Breeders’ Cup program as a horse of racing age. That would make him eligible to the Breeders’ Cup for as long as he races.

In addition, Big Cazanova’s connections would have to pay a $100,000 fee to start in the Classic, but that is the same fee for all Classic runners who did not earn a fees-paid berth through the Win and You’re In program.