The Big Torpedo has dead aim on Spectacular Bid Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Tom Morley blamed himself, in part, for The Big Torpedo getting run down late by the formidable Good Lord Lorrie when venturing outside New York-bred company for the first time in the Woodhaven Stakes. But there should be no excuses necessary Sunday at Aqueduct when The Big Torpedo returns against New York-sired company as the solid favorite in the $150,000 Spectacular Bid, a six-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds.

The Big Torpedo not only went up against open company in the Woodhaven, he also returned to the turf for the first time since launching his career with a second-place finish going six furlongs on the grass here last fall. In the Woodhaven, the steadily improving son of Big Brown rallied from mid-pack to assume command leaving the bend before succumbing grudgingly to Good Lord Lorrie in deep stretch and finishing second. Good Lord Lorrie flattered the performance by returning to finish fourth, beaten less than two lengths, five weeks later in the Grade 3 Penn Mile.

“I told my jockey [Eric Cancel] the way to beat [favored Carson’s Run] in the Woodhaven is to get first run on him. I just didn’t expect that to happen at the three-eighths pole,” Morley said. “Eric rode to instructions and the instructions probably cost him the race.”

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As expected, Morley was quite pleased with The Big Torpedo’s effort in the one-mile Woodhaven, for which he received a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure. His main worry on Sunday is the turnback in distance from a mile to six panels.

“He’s a colt with a lot of ability. My biggest concern is cutting back to six furlongs,” said Morley. “But he ran very well going six in his debut with no racing experience, finishing second, beaten a head, so hopefully he’s just classy enough that he can get the job done.”

The Big Torpedo figures to benefit from what projects to be an honest pace scenario in the Spectacular Bid as the competition includes speedsters like Heavyweight Champs, Bustin Away, and Grand Opening, all of whom will be making their grass debuts. Grand Opening will be wheeling back on just one week of rest after finishing second to the heavily favored Doc Sullivan going seven furlongs over a sloppy main track last Sunday at Saratoga in the Mike Lee Stakes.

Like The Big Torpedo, Fidelightcayut will also be going from open to restricted company and shortening from a mile to six furlongs after finishing a game and very close third 15 days earlier in the Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park. He contested the pace every step of the way before giving way stubbornly to the top two finishers in the final yards.

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Like Morley, trainer Juan Avila, has concerns about the shorter distance.

“Six furlongs is a bit of a question mark for me,” Avila admitted. “But my horse runs very fast for the first six furlongs in his longer races, continues to do excellent, and I believe he will be able to sit off the pace if need be and give another good performance.”

– additional reporting by David Grening