Breeders' Cup Classic long-range goal for Collected
ARCADIA, Calif. - The 4-year-old colt Collected is progressing so rapidly this spring that co-owner Peter Fluor has aspirations of a start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 4.
Saturday, Collected won his second race of the year, and fifth career stakes, in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita. Ridden by Martin Garcia for trainer Bob Baffert, Collected was always near the front and drew off to win by 3 3/4 lengths as the 3-5 favorite.
“This was a big race for him,” Fluor said in the winner’s circle.
“It was great to have him come back and run like this. As far as plans, I think you go to the Breeders’ Cup in November and work your way back.”
Fluor races as Speedway Stable with K.C. Weiner. Collected won three stakes as a 3-year-old, including the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland before finishing 10th in the Preakness Stakes last May. Collected was taken out of training following the loss in the Preakness and was turned out in Kentucky.
Collected won the minor Santana Mile on April 1 in his first start this year. Baffert said the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita at 1 1/4 miles on May 27 will be considered for Collected’s next start.
Collected’s win in the Californian occurred on an otherwise terrible day for Baffert. Saturday morning, the Baffert-trained Reach the World suffered an injury in a workout and was euthanized. Reach the World was fourth in the Santa Anita Derby on April 8 and was considered a candidate for the Belmont Stakes in June.
Baffert intended to have two starters in the Californian, but withdrew the three-time stakes winner Cupid after the colt sustained a hock injury on Saturday.
“They were giving him a bath,” Baffert said. “He started kicking and he caught himself on a hock. We couldn’t stop the bleeding.”
Baffert said the wound needed stitches, but that Cupid was otherwise fine. The incident did not lessen the frustration, though.
“I thought I’d seen everything,” Baffert said.