Breeders’ Cup decision looms for Private Zone

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There certainly is no question that Private Zone is the top older sprinter in the East and perhaps in the country following his dominating, 3 3/4-length victory over The Big Beast in Saturday’s Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga. But trainer Jorge Navarro does have some questions to answer regarding Private Zone’s immediate future, specifically if he’ll run again prior to the Breeders’ Cup and, more importantly, which Breeders’ Cup race he’ll compete in – the six-furlong Sprint or the Dirt Mile.

Private Zone returned to his summer base at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

“He’s bright, alert, feeling good, and jumping into his feed tub,” Navarro said on Monday. “The way he cooled out after the race was amazing, like it took nothing out of him.”

Navarro said he thinks Private Zone continues to improve, and that Martin Pedroza, who rode the horse in the Forego, thinks the same thing.

“The rider never used him the other day; he just did it so easy,” said Navarro. “It’s scary how good he is right now. The first thing Martin said to me when he jumped off him on Saturday was that he keeps getting better, that before he was waiting on horses and would win by a nose. Now he just takes off and runs away from them.”

Navarro said he and managing partner Rene Douglas would sit down this weekend and hash out their strategy for the Breeders’ Cup. Private Zone earned an automatic berth in the Sprint with his victory in the Forego.

“We could run him back once more,” said Navarro. “We’ll see how he does over the next few weeks, although I’d prefer to go straight to the Breeders’ Cup.”