Brown uncertain whether Big Blue Kitten will run

ARCADIA, Calif. – Big Blue Kitten may not start in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

On Wednesday, trainer Chad Brown said he was evaluating Big Blue Kitten’s condition following a runner-up finish to Hillstar in the Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine last Sunday.

The 13-day turnaround may prevent the 6-year-old Big Blue Kitten from making the trip to California. Brown said the horse’s “overall health and condition” will be assessed this weekend.

“We’re still evaluating the horse,” he said. “I would say he’s not definite to make the trip.”

Owned by breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Big Blue Kitten has won 11 of 23 starts and earned $1,465,830. He has one win this year, in the minor Lure Stakes at Saratoga in August. Last year, Big Blue Kitten won 4 of 8 starts, including the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park and the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga, but was eighth of 12 in the BC Turf at Santa Anita.

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Big Blue Kitten was among 16 horses pre-entered for the BC Turf this week.

“We’d rather be in there and take a look,” Brown said. “I have a plane set for Monday.”

The race is likely to have 13 runners if Big Blue Kitten does not start. The 4-year-old fillies Just The Judge and Secret Gesture were cross-entered in the Turf, but are expected to start in the Filly and Mare Turf.

As a result, the longshots Finnegans Wake and Starspangled Heat would join the Turf field. They were on the also-eligible list when the pre-entries were published. The BC Turf, run over 1 1/2 miles, will have a maximum of 14 starters.

The race is led by the European imports Flintshire, second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Oct. 5; Telescope, who was second in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July; and Magician, the 2013 winner of the BC Turf.