Big John B fit for comeback in Last Tycoon
ARCADIA, Calif. – Two weeks ago, Big John B zoomed six furlongs at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in 1:12. The quick workout was Big John B’s way of telling trainer Phil D’Amato that it was time to start racing this year.
On Saturday, Big John B will run for the first time since November in the $100,000 Last Tycoon Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita. Owned by Michael House, Big John B had a remarkable 2014 campaign. A 6-year-old gelding, Big John B was claimed for $50,000 at Keeneland last April and later won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap.
Big John B finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last November, emerging in need of a rest.
“He’d run in all the races,” D’Amato said.
Big John B is part of a solid field of eight in the Last Tycoon that includes the South American Group 1 winner Ganesh; Quick Casablanca, who won the 2014 Last Tycoon; Power Foot, third in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes on March 21; and Abbey Vale, an improving Irish-bred trained by D’Amato.
Last Tycoon, race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Big John B (Last 3 Beyers: 97-90-98)
◗ Big John B finished 5 1/4 lengths behind Main Sequence in the BC Turf. Big John B was turned out following that race and resumed training with D’Amato’s second team at San Luis Rey Downs earlier this year.
◗ The BC Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31 is a long-range goal. The $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf June 28 is the goal for early summer, followed by the Del Mar Handicap in August.
“This is a good race to get him started for the year,” D’Amato said. “We can follow a similar path and try to knock out the Del Mar Handicap. He’s training great.”
◗ Big John B is a closer. He was third in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles on turf in his last start at the distance last September.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Big John B and No. 8 Abbey Vale. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 11-5-1-2 with a $6.81 ROI over the past two years in turf routes of 10 furlongs and longer. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Ganesh (Last Beyer: 88)
◗ Ganesh was fifth in the Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf April 4 in his American debut. Last year, Ganesh won four consecutive turf races at 1 3/8 and 1 1/2 miles in Argentina. Those wins have left trainer Richard Mandella concerned that the Last Tycoon Stakes will be too short.
“It might not be quite enough distance for his best,” Mandella said. “He’s a mile-and-a-halfer by profession. We got the nice race in him the other day. I think he’ll do well enough here.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Ganesh. Trainer Richard Mandella is 12-0-1-0 over the past four years in turf route graded stakes in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Abbey Vale (Last 3 Beyers: 96-NA-87)
◗ Abbey Vale returned from an 11-month layoff to score a convincing win in an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf March 27. A 5-year-old gelding, Abbey Vale has won 3 of 18 starts in Ireland and the United States. While he ran in lucrative handicaps in Ireland, Abbey Vale will have his graded stakes debut in the Last Tycoon Stakes.
“He’s an improving horse, always very highly thought of,” D’Amato said. “His last two breezes were very impressive.”