Breeders’ Cup Sprint: Private Zone decision key

The big question for anyone pointing toward the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Oct. 31 is what the connections of division leader Private Zone ultimately decide to do over the next several weeks.

Trainer Jorge Navarro and stable manager Rene Douglas remained undecided Wednesday as to whether to run the four-time Grade 1 winner in the Sprint, as was their original intention, or stretch him out for the Dirt Mile. One thing is for certain, according to Navarro: Private Zone couldn’t be doing any better at present.

“He’s doing so good right now I’m not concerned no matter which way we go,” said Navarro. “His work the other day at Monmouth was just as good as his work before he won the Forego, and he came back bucking and kicking afterwards, which he’s never done before. I think the cooler weather is really helping him, and he’s even put on some weight since his last start. There are a lot of good sprinters out there, but I think he’s just better than all of them right now. And if he goes to the Mile, the race would be easier on him because he would likely be able to make the lead very easily.”

Navarro said he’ll work Private Zone once more at Monmouth Park either Saturday or Sunday before putting him on a plane to Keeneland sometime next week.

Private Zone is one of four horses to have already qualified for a free ride into the Sprint by virtue of his impressive win in the Grade 1 Forego. The others who have won Breeders’ Cup Challenge races for the Sprint are Favorite Tale (Smile Sprint), Wild Dude (Bing Crosby) and Rock Fall (Vosburgh).

Rock Fall likely would vie for favoritism with Private Zone in the Sprint after notching his seventh straight victory last weekend at Belmont in the six-furlong Vosburgh. Salutos Amigos, who finished second, and fourth-place finisher Palace also are candidates for the Sprint.

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Favorite Tale tuned up for his Breeders’ Cup debut with an easy and popular victory over statebreds last weekend at Parx. And his trainer, Guadalupe Preciado, for one, would love to see Private Zone opt for the Dirt Mile.

“To me, Private Zone is the one to beat in the Sprint,” said Preciado. “And he would make it tough for me because he’s the speed, like my horse. It sure would be nice to get him out of there.”

The final two Breeders’ Cup Challenge races for the Sprint are the Grade 3 Phoenix on Friday at Keeneland and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Saturday. The Phoenix features defending champ and reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Work All Week against 3-year-old sensation Runhappy, the impressive winner of the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga. The field also includes top contenders Alsvid, Holy Boss, and last year’s Sprint pacesetter, Fast Anna.

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