Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Jack Christopher still weighing his options
Jack Christopher is on schedule for a Breeders’ Cup appearance Nov. 5 at Keeneland, but it’s to be determined whether the 3-year-old with a 5-for-6 record starts in the $1 million Dirt Mile or the $2 million Sprint.
“After his next work, I’ll have a better idea,” trainer Chad Brown said Tuesday.
Jack Christopher is the second choice for both races on Daily Racing Form’s early lines, set by handicapper Brad Free. Jack Christopher is 3-1 for the Dirt Mile and 4-1 for the Sprint.
Jack Christopher is unbeaten at a mile, with both wins coming in one-turn stakes. He captured the Grade 1 Champagne at 2 at Belmont Park and in his 3-year-old debut won the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs.
The Dirt Mile is around two turns, and it would mark Jack Christopher’s second attempt at the configuration. In his first, he ran third in the Haskell at 1 1/8 miles on July 23 at Monmouth. Jack Christopher was beaten two lengths, finishing right behind winner Cyberknife and next-out Pennsylvania Derby winner Taiba.
“At a mile, he was pretty close with those horses,” Brown said. “I’m not afraid of running him around two turns again.”
Another reason the Dirt Mile is in play for Jack Christopher is the six-furlong distance of the Sprint. Brown said he is debating whether it’s a little too short for the horse, whose two Grade 1 wins this year have come over seven furlongs – in the H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga and the Woody Stephens at Belmont.
Brown said Highly Motivated, winner of the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup in July, is under consideration for the Dirt Mile, but also the Grade 2, $300,000 Kelso on Oct. 29 at the Belmont at the Big A meet.
“After this weekend, I’ll know more,” he said.
Pipeline is another Dirt Mile consideration, but Brown said plans are to be determined after the horse missed a bit of training last week due to illness. Pipeline was third in the Forego.
Cyberknife set for Dirt Mile
Cyberknife is bound for the Dirt Mile, trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday. The winner of both the Haskell and Arkansas Derby, Cyberknife exits a third-place finish in the Pennsylvania Derby.
“That’s what we’re planning on right now, the Dirt Mile.” Cox said.
He added it’s possible the horse will be pre-entered in the Classic, but added there was a simple appeal to the Dirt Mile.
“There’s no Flightline,” Cox quipped.
“I’ve said it before – it’s a tough year to be a good horse.”
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Cyberknife, an earner of $1.9 million, is scheduled to have both of his remaining works for the Dirt Mile at his base of Churchill. Cox said Cyberknife would ship to Keeneland the week of the Breeders’ Cup.
Florent Geroux has the mount, Cox said.
Simplification arrived at Keeneland at Monday to continue preparations for the Dirt Mile, trainer Antonio Sano said. He is scheduled to work Saturday.
Simplification won two stakes earlier this year at Gulfstream Park, taking the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in March and the Mucho Macho Man at a one-turn mile in January. He will be backing up from 1 1/8 miles, having finished fourth in the Pennsylvania Derby.
“He likes the mile,” Sano said, “and the two turns is better for my horse.”
Pre-entries are due Monday.
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