Favorite Tale prepping for BC Sprint

Favorite Tale has been working lights out at Parx since his third-place finish in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 1, but trainer Lupe Preciado has been in search of a race that will serve as a bridge to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland.

It appears he has found his spot in the fifth race on Saturday at Parx.

Preciado entered Favorite Tale in the $100,000 Banjo Picker against Pennsylvania-breds on Sept. 5, but the six-furlong race failed to fill, possibly because of Favorite Tale’s presence. Preciado switched his entry that day to the $100,000 Marshall Jenney for statebreds at five furlongs on turf but ultimately scratched Favorite Tale and worked him a bullet five furlongs the next day instead.

On Saturday, Favorite Tale, winner of the Grade 2 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park in July, is entered against seven rivals in a $70,000 allowance race for horses who have not won two Pennsylvania-bred restricted races other than maiden, claiming or starter. Favorite Tale, a winner of 6 of 15 starts and $586,626 is eligible because he has not raced against statebred company since winning a first-level allowance in his second career start in February 2014.

The Smile Sprint that Favorite Tale won on July 5, is a Win and You're In for the BC Sprint.

“We want to take him to Kentucky,” Preciado said. “I pretty much want a race that will get him to the Breeders’ Cup. This will give us five weeks between starts.”

Favorite Tale is a 4-year-old gelded son of Tale of the Cat. In addition to the Smile Sprint, he has won the Grade 3 Gallant Bob at Parx and the Gold Fever Stakes at Belmont Park. He was beaten two lengths by Rock Fall and The Big Beast in the Vanderbilt.