Big Cuddle headed to Haskell

Trainer Gary Capuano confirmed Tuesday that Big Cuddle will point to the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 18. The 3-year-old colt has earned back-to-back stakes victories against progressively tougher company, making Capuano believe he deserves consideration against some of the best in his class.

“You know when they start taking those next steps and running with some better horses and they’re able to compete,” Capuano said. “In their training, they’re getting a little better and moving forward. That’s the big thing. Then it’s time to try some better company, graded-stake horses and stuff like that.”

In the span of two months, Big Cuddle played the part of plucky underdog in the $100,000 Sir Barton at Laurel Park and overwhelming local talent in the $300,000 Delaware Derby, winning both races and building his résumé through consistent improvement. Capuano, who has excelled with younger horses throughout his career, knows when they deserve the chance at something more.

With Big Cuddle ascending through the 3-year-old ranks, Capuano has received a steady flow of requests to compare his star of the moment to Captain Bodgit, who finished second for the trainer in the 1997 Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness before being forced into an early retirement. The comparisons are premature, but he said he didn’t mind.

“That’s just the nature of the business,” Capuano said. “I don’t even know how to compare him to Captain Bodgit. That was almost 30 years ago now. He was just a horse that trained superbly. You never seemed to get to the bottom of him.”

Capuano acknowledged that Big Cuddle is not Captain Bodgit and still has plenty of work to do if he is going to contend with the likes of Further Ado, The Puma, and Napoleon Solo, all of whom are being pointed to the Haskell. Horsemen can only take the big chances with 3-year-olds once, however, and the trainer likes his hand this year.

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