Breeders' Cup Sprint the goal for Noholdingback Bear

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After running third in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27, Noholdingback Bear is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

To get him to Santa Anita, trainer Michael De Paulo and owner Danny Dion are considering two options for Noholdingback Bear’s next start: the Grade 3, $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes for 3-year-olds at Parx on Saturday or the Grade 1, $350,000 Vosburgh Invitational for 3-year-olds and up at Belmont Park on Oct. 1. Both races will be run over six furlongs on dirt.

“We’re going to figure that out pretty soon,” De Paulo said. “The boss would like to get to the Breeders’ Cup if he can.”

The Vosburgh offers a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint to the winner, but Noholdingback Bear could also qualify for the Breeders’ Cup through qualification points. He sits in a three-way tie for the 12th position with eight points toward the Sprint, and the field will be limited to 14 starters. Noholdingback Bear could earn six points for second or four points for third in the Vosburgh, or four points for first, two points for second, or one point for third in the Gallant Bob.

Noholdingback Bear breezed five furlongs in 59.80 seconds on the dirt training track here Saturday.

“His race at Saratoga was a great race,” De Paulo said. “Seven-eighths is maybe just a touch far for him.”