Breeders' Cup waiting game begins for Blackjackcat

ARCADIA, Calif. - The waiting game is underway for the people behind Blackjackcat, the winner of four consecutive races in Southern California and a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

Blackjackcat won his final prep Saturday in the $79,685 Obviously Mile at Santa Anita.

Owners Al and Sandee Kirkwood and trainer Mark Glatt are hopeful Blackjackcat’s winning streak, led by a victory in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 20, will be sufficient for the 4-year-old gelding to secure a berth in a race that is annually oversubscribed.

In many cases, a committee determines the final field, which this year will be announced on Oct. 25.

Glatt hopes that three consecutive stakes wins by Blackjackcat will catch the attention of the selection jury.

“This gives me a better chance to get into the Breeders’ Cup,” he said in the winner’s circle.

The Kirkwoods and Glatt considered sending Blackjackcat to Keeneland for Saturday’s Grade 1 Shadwell Mile, but opted for the Obviously Mile, even though the race is not graded and offered minor prize money.

“It would have been a gamble to go to Keeneland,” Glatt said. “It was a gamble that he’d run good there and ship for the first time. It’s a gamble to stay home and not accumulate any (qualifying) points.”

The Breeders’ Cup awards qualifying points for top three finishes in graded stakes. The race will have 14 runners, but there are closer to 16 to 18 candidates as of this week.
The Obviously Mile was run in place of the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile because of purse constraints. Santa Anita officials have indicated the $200,000 City of Hope Mile will be scheduled for the 2018 autumn meeting.