D'Amato deciding between BC Dirt Mile, Sprint for Iron Man Cal

Iron Man Cal is bound for the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland on Oct. 31 after a gate-to-wire win in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 29.

A specific Breeders’ Cup race has not been finalized, trainer Phil D’Amato said this week.

“He’ll train up to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile or Breeders’ Cup Sprint,” D’Amato said.

Iron Man Cal, a 4-year-old gelding by Collected, won for the second time in his last three starts in the Pat O’Brien. On June 7 at Santa Anita, Iron Man Cal closed from fourth of 11 to win an allowance race at a mile on turf. He finished third in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on dirt at Del Mar on July 18 in advance of the Pat O’Brien Stakes.

Owned by the partnership of Little Red Feather Racing and Madaket Stables, Iron Man Cal earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Dirt Mile with his win in the Pat O’Brien. If the BC Sprint is chosen, Iron Man Cal will be racing at six furlongs for the first time in his 12th career start.

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