Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Yakteen giving Practical Move a shot
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Practical Move returns to action Friday in an allowance at Santa Anita that has the potential to produce starters for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 4.
Practical Move has won three graded stakes in his last three starts, his most recent the Santa Anita Derby on April 8. For his return, which comes at a mile, he’s logged a strong series of works. Trainer Tim Yakteen said Friday’s race will start to determine the path for Practical Move.
“We’re literally taking it one race at a time,” he said. “We’re excited to see him back, get to the races, and the timing does allow us to campaign Breeders’ Cup weekend – if he performs and that’s the direction we want to go. Obviously, if we feel we need to go in a different direction, we can do that as well. Timing-wise, with four weeks between races, we’ll make that decision after we run.
“We’re going to let Practical Move tell us how we’re going to campaign.”
Others in the allowance field include Newgrange, a Grade 3 winner at a mile making his first start since the spring, and Mr Fisk and Tahoe Sunrise, the dead-heat winners of the Shared Belief at a mile at Del Mar.
The BC Dirt Mile’s defending winner, Cody’s Wish, is set to return for this year’s renewal in what will be his first start in Southern California. He’s been made the early 8-5 favorite on the line Brad Free has set for Daily Racing Form.
Gunite, who was fourth in last year’s Dirt Mile, is possible for the race again this year, trainer Steve Asmussen said.
“Everything depends on how he’s doing in California, and we’ll go from there,” he said of the Grade 1 winner now at Santa Anita.
Senor Buscador, who was eighth in last year’s Dirt Mile after earning a berth for his win in the Ack Ack, will be cross-entered in this year’s Dirt Mile, according to trainer Todd Fincher. He said the horse’s first preference would be the BC Classic following Senor Buscador’s third-place finish in the Awesome Again on Sept. 30.
“Any distance – six and a half [furlongs] to a mile and a quarter – is fine for him,” Fincher said. “He needs a good pace to run at, which we didn’t get the other day on a very speed-biased track. I thought he ran an excellent race.”
Fincher said in either race, Geovanni Franco would have the mount on Senor Buscador.
Slow Down Andy, the third-place finisher from last year’s Dirt Mile, and Anarchist, earner of a berth into this year’s renewal for his win in the Pat O’Brien at seven furlongs at Del Mar, are both trained by Doug O’Neill. O’Neill said Tuesday he had no runners targeting the Dirt Mile. Slow Down Andy has earned a berth into the BC Classic with his win in the Awesome Again.
A new face for the Dirt Mile is Stage Raider, who was second in the recent Ack Ack at Churchill.
“He’s a horse with a lot of talent and ability,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said.
“He is a half-brother to Justify. For his pedigree, it’s important to try to get these kinds of credentials.”
◗ Nimitz Class, who won the recent Parx Dirt Mile over Gunite, has not been discussed for the Breeders’ Cup, trainer Bruce Kravets said. He said race options are the Grade 2 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct or some of the stakes the horse ran in at this time last year in Maryland.
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