Confidence for Big John B ahead of John Henry Turf Championship
ARCADIA, Calif. – A few months ago, Big John B was a most improbable contender for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.
In April, he was claimed by owner Michael House for $50,000 at Keeneland. On Aug. 23, Big John B won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, earning a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf through the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program.
A win in Sunday’s $200,0000 John Henry Turf Championship over 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita would send Big John B into the BC Turf as perhaps California’s best hope.
Trainer Phil D’Amato debated running Big John B in the Grade 2 John Henry or waiting for the Breeders’ Cup. He opted to run on Sunday after watching Big John B train.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Big John B and No. 8 Bright Thought. Trainer Phil D’Amato is 44-12-2-4 with a $4.56 ROI over the past five years in all turf routes (7-4-0-1 with a $8.37 ROI in ones at 10 furlongs and longer). Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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“He’s ready to go,” D’Amato said. “I was contemplating waiting for the Breeders’ Cup, but he came out of his Del Mar race so fresh and happy that I can’t pass this spot.”
Big John B is part of a field of 10 in a competitive running of the John Henry. The race features three others who have won stakes this year – Big Kick, who won the San Juan Capistrano here in June; Finnegans Wake, who won the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap at Arlington Park in July; and Irish Surf, who won the Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar in July.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Finnegans Wake. Trainer Peter Miller is 9-0-0-0 over the past five years in graded stakes with horses new to his barn. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Big Kick and Irish Surf are using the John Henry Turf Championship as a prep for the $200,000 Las Vegas Marathon over 1 3/4 miles on dirt Oct. 31, their trainers said earlier this week.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Irish Surf. Trainer Dan Hendricks is 53-3-10-6 with a $1.18 ROI over the past five years in turf routes at Santa Anita. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Key contenders
Big John B (Last 3 Beyers: 98-94-90)
* Big John B thrived at Del Mar, winning twice over 1 3/8 miles on turf – an optional claimer by 7 1/4 lengths July 30 and the Del Mar Handicap by 5 1/4 lengths.
“His confidence level is through the roof,” D’Amato said. “The mile and a quarter will not take a lot out of him going to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Bright Thought (Last 3 Beyers: 88-88-87)
* The winner of the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes over 1 1/2 miles in 2013, Bright Thought was sent to D’Amato over the summer, having previously been trained by Jorge Gutierrez.
* Bright Thought was near the front early in the Del Mar Handicap and finished third, beaten 5 1/2 lengths.
Finnegans Wake (Last 3 Beyers: 92-92-93)
* The John Henry will be Finnegans Wake’s first start for trainer Peter Miller.
* The 5-year-old horse followed his win in the Arlington Handicap with a fifth-place finish in the Arlington Million on Aug. 16.
Big Kick (Last 3 Beyers: 31-98-89)
* After winning the San Juan Capistrano over 1 3/4 miles on turf on the front end, Big Kick finished last of 10 in the American St. Leger Stakes over 1 11/16 miles on turf at Arlington Park on Aug. 16.
* Trainer Mike Machowsky said Big Kick struggled on the Arlington turf course.
“I could tell when he came past the stands the first time that he was climbing,” Machowsky said. “The ground had too much give in it. I hope he runs back to his San Juan.”
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the date and track of Big John B's claim. He was claimed in April at Keeneland, not in May at Churchill.