Firing Line may train up to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

Troubled by illness and minor injury in recent months, Firing Line may be trained up to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4, trainer Simon Callaghan said on Thursday.

Firing Line, second in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, missed the Harry Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 24 because of a strained muscle. The 4-year-old has resumed training, Callaghan said.

Callaghan said there is a possibility that Firing Line could start in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1. The list of candidates for the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles is led by California Chrome, the winner of the Pacific Classic on Aug. 20.

“It will be tight,” Callaghan said. “I’m not opposed to going straight to the Mile.”

Firing Line is owned by Arnold Zetcher and overcame an illness in July to train well for the Brubaker, Callaghan said.

“His last three breezes were effortless,” he said. “He was very ready.”