Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Diodoro has double vision
Already intending to run the Grade 1 stakes-placed maiden Keepmeinmind in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 6 at Keeneland, trainer Robertino Diodoro could add a second horse to his lineup for that race in the two-time winner Dreamer’s Disease.
Diodoro liked what he saw from a five-furlong workout Dreamer’s Disease put in Oct. 17 at Keeneland, and if he sees another good work from him this weekend, then he will likely be greenlighted for the Juvenile.
“He’s getting better and better, that’s what I like about him,” Diodoro said. “His work on Saturday was so far his best work, or his most impressive work since he’s been going.”
Dreamer’s Disease, a son of the white-hot stallion Laoban, won a one-mile dirt allowance race over Keeneland’s surface on Oct. 3, just hours before Keepmeinmind finished second to Essential Quality in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity. Dreamer’s Disease was quick away from the gate, set a modest pace, and galloped home an easy 4 1/2-length winner, his second win from four starts.
Keepmeinmind, also a son of Laboan and like Dreamer’s Disease bred by Mike Moreno’s Southern Equine Stable, has finished second in both of his starts. In the Breeders’ Futurity, he raced between horses early on, dropped back entering the far turn, and came back on to get second by 1 1/2 lengths over Super Stock while finishing 3 1/4 lengths behind Essential Quality.
Keepmeinmind came back with a workout that Keeneland clockers deemed a half-mile in 49.20 seconds.
“He galloped out a strong five-eighths. He’s been training great as well,” said Diodoro, whose lone previous BC starter was Broadway Empire, seventh in the 2013 Dirt Mile. “I’m very happy with the direction they’re going in. Some 2-year-olds will peak early in the year, some later in their 2-year-old year. From what I can see, they’re both peaking, or developing, at the right time.”
Trainer Dale Romans also would like to run two horses, if they can get in. Sittin On Go is already in based on his victory in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes on Sept. 5 at Churchill. Romans also hopes to run Smiley Sobotka, who won a 1 1/16-mile maiden race on Oct. 4 at Keeneland.
“It’s more about how he’s trained than even his race,” Romans said about Smiley Sobotka.
The Juvenile lost one player this week with the news that Get Her Number, the Grade 1 American Pharoah winner, was getting time off due to bone bruising.
There are a bevy of new names under consideration to take on undefeated Grade 1 winners Jackie’s Warrior and Essential Quality in the Juvenile when pre-entries are due Monday. Upstriker, fourth in the Breeders’ Futurity; Hot Rod Charlie, a maiden winner on Oct 2.; Caisson, whose first preference is to run in the Juvenile Turf, per trainer Richard Mandella; and Basso are all names that have surfaced this week as potential Juvenile starters. Basso was entered in a Wednesday allowance race at Monmouth Park.
A weekend workout will determine the status of Hopeful and Champagne runner-up Reinvestment Risk.