Big Score headed to Penn Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Big Score, a stakes winner at Keeneland in April who was third in the Grade 2 American Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on May 6, will start in the Grade 2 Penn Mile at Penn National on June 3, trainer Tim Yakteen said.

Yakteen said the $500,000 purse and the timing of the race were leading factors in the decision to start Big Score in the Penn Mile.

“I think he’s still improving,” Yakteen said.

Yakteen is hoping to run Big Score in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby, a $1.2 million race at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Belmont Park on July 8.

Owned by breeder George Krikorian, Big Score has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $266,300. Big Score won the Zuma Beach Stakes here last October and the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland on April 7 in his first start this year. Last November, Big Score was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.