Belmont Park
Breeders' Cup Sprint: The Lumber Guy confirmed starter
Barbara D. Livingston The Lumber Guy will seek a repeat win in the Grade 1 Vosburgh on Saturday.
The Lumber Guy, runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, was confirmed as a starter for this year’s Sprint, trainer Mike Hushion said Thursday.
[BREEDERS’ CUP 2013: See DRF’s top contenders]
On Thursday, The Lumber Guy worked four furlongs in 48.63 over the Belmont main track. He went his first quarter in 24.09 and his second quarter in 23.54. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.03 under Mike Luzzi, who will ride him in the Sprint.
“The last thing I wanted was anything fancy,” said Hushion, who trains The Lumber Guy for Barry Schwartz. “Just a nice, smooth half.”
The Lumber Guy is coming off a last-place finish in the Grade 1 Vosburgh. Hushion is guessing that his horse was compromised by working too fast the week of the race.