Breeders' Cup Juvenile contender Calculator works slowly by design

Calculator may be the only maiden in the field for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but with two second-place finishes to likely race favorite American Pharoah in Grade 1 races, he certainly has credentials for running in the $2 million race.

On Saturday, at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in Bonsall, Calif., Calculator completed preparations for the Juvenile by working six furlongs in 1:13.80. It was the second fastest of seven works at the distance. But it was far slower than his six-furlong move in 1:10.80 on Oct. 18.

Saturday’s slower move was by design.

“We wanted to slow him down; no company, just wanted a maintenance, easy, stamina three-quarters,” said trainer Peter Miller, who caught Calculator galloping out seven furlongs in 1:27.

Of last week’s work, which was done in company, Miller said, “We were looking for a good work, but not quite that good.”

In his debut, at Del Mar, Calculator was beaten a length by Lord Nelson, who has since come back to win a stakes. In his second start, Calculator finished fourth in a maiden race in which American Pharoah finished fifth.

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Calculator then finished second to American Pharoah in both the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes, the latter at Santa Anita.

“I feel good,” Miller said. ‘[American Pharoah] got away with two very soft paces on an easy lead. He may be still good without that but it’ll be a different scenario in the Breeders’ Cup. There are no easy leads in the Breeders’ Cup.”

Miller will keep Calculator at San Luis Rey until Wednesday morning when all Breeders’ Cup horses are required to be on the grounds.

The only other Juvenile starter to work Saturday was FrontRunner third-place finisher Texas Red, who worked a half-mile in 50 seconds at 7:45 a.m. after the second of three renovation breaks at Santa Anita. Kent Desormeaux was aboard for the work and has the mount in the Juvenile for his brother, trainer Keith Desormeaux.

Danny Boy, who was pre-entered for both the Juvenile and Juvenile Turf, worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds over the Santa Anita turf course. Trainer Dale Romans said afterward that Danny Boy would run in the Juvenile Turf, which was stated as his first preference.

“I’m sure we’ll get back to the dirt in the spring where [Kentucky Derby] points start to accumulate,” Romans said. “But right now we’re going to stay on the turf.”

As of Saturday, a full field of 14 was still possible for the Juvenile when entries are taken and post positions drawn on Monday. However, War Envoy has first preference in the Juvenile Turf so it is likely that the Juvenile will be run with 13.

The field, with riders, is expected to be: American Pharoah (Victor Espinoza), Calculator (Elvis Trujillo), Carpe Diem (John Velazquez), Daredevil (Javier Castellano), Lucky Player (Ricardo Santana), Mr. Z (Mike Smith), One Lucky Dane (Rafael Bejarano), Private Prospect (James Campbell), Souper Colossal (Paco Lopez), Texas Red (Kent Desormeaux), The Great War (TBD), Upstart (Jose Ortiz), and Blue Dancer (Richard Walcott).

- additional reporting by Jay Privman