Firing Line to miss Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Firing Line, second in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, will miss the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 after falling behind in recent training.

Trainer Simon Callaghan said on Saturday that he is planning a late-autumn and winter campaign for Firing Line, who missed a scheduled start in the Harry Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 24 because of a strained muscle.

There was a chance that Firing Line could have run in the BC Dirt Mile after a series of workouts, but Callaghan said that is no longer a possibility.

“It will be too soon,” Callaghan said. “I want to get him where he needs to be. He’s been galloping and has a good base of fitness. He’ll have a recorded work in the next few weeks.”

Owned by Arnold Zetcher, Firing Line has struggled through illness and minor injury this year. Firing Line finished fifth in an optional claimer at Santa Anita in July in his only start this year. He was found to be ill after that race.