Dutrow pleased with The Big Beast's win in King's Bishop
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Tony Dutrow was extremely confident his grand-looking 3-year-old The Big Beast could successfully make the jump from winning an entry-level allowance race here earlier in the meet to defeat Grade 1 competition in Saturday’s King’s Bishop. And sure enough, he did, although not without a few anxious moments for his connections.
“I was confident in my horse but at the same time very aware they were not going very fast up front,” said Dutrow while relaxing in his tack room after training hours on Sunday. “I was impressed with [The Big Beast] being able to run down such a talented horse [Fast Anna] with Johnny Velazquez on his back, especially after he got away with soft fractions like he did. After all, who’s better in a situation like that than Johnny? I thought it was very impressive for him to finish up that way against that set of circumstances.”
With Javier Castellano aboard, The Big Beast chased Fast Anna and eventually wore the leader down to win off by 1 1/2 widening lengths while going seven furlongs for the first time in the King’s Bishop. The Big Beast, a son of Yes It’s True, earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort.
Dutrow said The Big Beast came out of the race well but that it’s too soon to talk about any future plans.
“We needed to get past yesterday to see where we were with him first,” said Dutrow. “To be honest, I haven’t thought any further ahead than that.”
Trainer Kathy Ritvo was equally pleased with the performance of her lightly raced Fast Anna, who suffered his first defeat in the King’s Bishop but became Grade 1 placed in just his third career start.
“I’m very proud of him,” said Ritvo, who trains the homebred Fast Anna for owner Frank Calabrese. “It’s quite an accomplishment to run second in a Grade 1 in just his third start, and it was also a good learning experience for him. Johnny said he hit his shoulder on the gate leaving there and that he galloped out super after the race. I’m not so sure my horse saw the winner coming at the end. I’ve toyed with the idea of taking the blinkers off, so I might consider an equipment change next time.”
Ritvo said she’ll ship Fast Anna back to Gulfstream Park, then map out plans for the rest of the campaign.
“We have so many options with him, since his breeding suggests he will go further in distance and that he should also love the turf,” said Ritvo.