D'Amato glad Big John B fresh heading to Breeders' Cup Turf

Big John B will start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31 with a 10-week gap since his win in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 22. That could be the longest break between starts for any of the runners in the BC Turf field, an issue that does not concern trainer Phil D’Amato.

D’Amato said he has geared Big John B’s season for the BC Turf, and is convinced he had a tired gelding last year when Big John B finished ninth in the BC Turf at Santa Anita.

“He’s fresh,” D’Amato said. “That helps a little. He’s coming into it this year with half as many starts. We’ll see if it works.”

Owned by Michael House, Big John B will be a longshot in the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles even though he has won three consecutive races. The Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf is the most prestigious of those races.

Sunday, Big John B worked six furlongs on turf in 1:15.40 in company with Hunt, a candidate for the $200,000 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita on Saturday. Hunt was timed in 1:15.20.

D’Amato will start Obviously in the BC Mile. Sunday, Obviously worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on turf, working alone. Obviously was third in the Woodbine Mile in Toronto on Oct. 12. Owned by Anthony Fanticola and Joe Scardino, Obviously will have his fourth consecutive appearance in the BC Mile. He was third in 2012 and fifth in the last two seasons.