Breeders' Cup Turf: Da Big Hoss won't be overlooked this year

In 2015, Da Big Hoss was a 60-1 afterthought in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland. He finished sixth of 12, 6 1/2 lengths behind the winner, the 3-year-old filly Found.

Da Big Hoss is scheduled for another start in the $4 million BC Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 5. This time, his price will be far lower and the expectations far higher.

Da Big Hoss has won his last four starts at four different venues – in Kentucky, Illinois, and New York – since April and approaches the BC Turf in the best form of his career.

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The assignment won’t be easy. Flintshire, a three-time stakes winner in New York this year, and Found, the winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly in France on Oct. 2, will dominate the betting. Da Big Hoss has his own credentials.

“It’s time for him to step up,” trainer Mike Maker said this week. “We’ve picked our spots through the year.”

The win streak began in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland in April and continued in the Belmont Gold Cup in June, the Grade 3 American St. Leger at Arlington Park in August, and the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 10. The wins were achieved at distances ranging from the 1 1/2 miles of the BC Turf to two miles.

“I think the added ground shows what he can do,” Maker said.

The accomplishments are more remarkable considering that Maker claimed Da Big Hoss on behalf of Skychai Racing for $50,000 at Churchill Downs in June 2015. Da Big Hoss, a 5-year-old horse by Lemon Drop Kid, has earned $1,445,220 since being claimed.

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The winning streak has a common theme – Da Big Hoss rallies from the back of the field with a half-mile run that carries him to the front with time to spare. The closest finish in the sequence was a half-length victory in the Elkhorn Stakes.

“He’s earned his chance to run against Found this year,” Maker said. “He’s had a great year.”

Florent Geroux has been the regular rider of Da Big Hoss and is scheduled to have the mount in the Breeders’ Cup.

Found will have one more start before the BC Turf. She is scheduled to run in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, a race led by Irish Champion Stakes winner Almanzor. Last year, Found finished ninth in the Arc de Triomphe and was second in the Champion Stakes before winning the BC Turf, all in October. This year, those races are being held over an additional week.

BC Turf contender The Pizza Man, who won the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine in September, starts in Sunday’s Canadian International at Woodbine.