Dylan Thomas nominated to Kentucky Cup Classic

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has signaled his intention to run Dylan Thomas, winner of both the Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes, in the Breeders' Cup Classic by nominating him to Turfway Park's Kentucky Cup Classic.

But O'Brien warned on Thursday that he has yet to decide between the 1 1 /8-mile Turfway Park Grade 2 event on Sept. 30 and Belmont Park's 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 7 as the Breeders' Cup Classic prep for Dylan Thomas, a 3-year-old son of Danehill.

"We want to give him a run in America on dirt to see how he handles what will be for him a new surface," O'Brien said. "We'll decide over the weekend on which race we'll use."

Dylan Thomas earned a Timeform rating of 129+ when he defeated Ouija Board by a neck in the 1 1/4-mile Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sept. 9. On July 2, his Timeform rating was 126+ for a 3 1/2-length victory in the 1 1/2-mile Irish Derby. These compare favorably with the Timeform ratings of 131 and 125+ earned by Bernardini in his Travers and Preakness victories.

Out of a mare by Diesis, Dylan Thomas, owned by Mrs. John Magnier, has won 5 of 9 career starts for earnings of $2,444,309.