Forego likely next spot for Fed Biz

DEL MAR, Calif. – After Fed Biz won the San Diego Handicap last Saturday at Del Mar – his third win in a Grade 2 stakes race – his trainer, Bob Baffert, said the next order of business was trying to get Fed Biz a Grade 1 win.

The 1 1/16-mile San Diego is often used as a prep for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, run this year on Aug. 24, but Baffert believes Fed Biz is more effective at seven furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, not the 1 1/4 miles of the Pacific Classic. So, Fed Biz is likely headed to Saratoga for the Grade 1 Forego at seven furlongs Aug. 30.

“We’ve got to get a Grade 1 in him,” Baffert said of Fed Biz, a son of Giant’s Causeway. “He needs to win a Grade 1.”

Another strong possibility for the Forego is Goldencents, who finished second to Big Macher in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby here Sunday. Trainer Doug O’Neill said Goldencents would either go to the Forego or stay here for the $250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes on Aug. 24. Like the Forego, the Pat O’Brien is at seven furlongs, but it is a Grade 2 race.

Fed Biz and Goldencents ran one-two in last year’s Pat O’Brien.

Big Macher is likely for the O’Brien, according to trainer Richard Baltas. Both Baltas, 53, and Big Macher got their first Grade 1 win in the Bing Crosby.