Ebeko better fit in Cecil B. DeMille than in Breeders' Cup

Ebeko went from a nose win in the $101,000 Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 4 to a ninth-place finish at 49-1 in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Nov. 6.

A return to racing in Southern California in Sunday’s Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf at Del Mar may provide the ideal finish for the colt’s autumn campaign.

“He should be back with his friends,” Miller said.

In the Zuma Beach, Ebeko finished in front of Cotopaxi, Caisson, and Big Fish, who were third through fifth. They are part of a field of 11 in the $100,000 DeMille Stakes.

Other notable runners in the DeMille are Beer Can Man, the winner of consecutive starts at Indiana Grand in August and September; Royal Prince, the sharp winner of a maiden special weight race on turf at Keeneland on Oct. 2; Wootton Asset, second in the Laurel Futurity in October; and the British import Party Game.

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Ebeko drew the rail, which Miller admits is not an ideal starting position. The colt tends to run as a stalker. Ricardo Gonzalez, who was aboard in the Zuma Beach, has the mount.

“As a general rule, you like being on the inside on the grass, but the flip side is you need to work out a trip,” Miller said. “He’s a tactical horse. He’s run very well from far back and up close. I think it will depend on the pace.”

In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Ebeko was ridden by Flavien Prat and was as close as fourth with a quarter-mile remaining before fading to finish 8 1/4 lengths behind winner Fire At Will.

“It was maybe a little better than looked,” Miller said. “He was a little rank and got jostled around a little bit early.”

Big Fish and Ebeko were first and second in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 6, separated by a length. Big Fish was the 2-1 favorite in the Zuma Beach. He raced wide and was beaten 2 3/4 lengths.

For the DeMille, his sixth start, Big Fish will not be fitted for blinkers for the first time.

“He’s getting a little aggressive and we want him to settle down a little bit,” trainer David Hofmans said.

Hofmans said he was puzzled by Big Fish’s performance in the Zuma Beach.

“He may have bounced off that other race,” Hofmans said, referring to the Del Mar Juvenile Turf. “He was so wide and made a move from the half-mile pole. I think he’s just young.”

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The DeMille will be the California debut, first start in a stakes, and first start at a mile for Beer Can Man, who joined trainer Mark Glatt’s stable in late October after winning consecutive races at five furlongs on turf at Indiana Grand.

“The horse is pretty much a pro,” Glatt said. “He does everything right. He’s almost like an older, seasoned horse.”

The longer distance will be a test, however.

“I would say anytime a young horse stretches out I’m always a little apprehensive,” Glatt said. “You don’t know for sure. He hasn’t trained like a speedball. He’s pretty push-button. I think he’ll relax enough which is the biggest key, and that’s the important thing in getting a young horse to stretch out.”