Forego top two headed for Breeders' Cup

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Even though the top two finishers from Saturday’s Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6, it is possible they could end up in different races.

Here Comes Ben, who won the $250,000 Forego by three-quarters of a length over Big Drama, is likely to be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, while Big Drama will definitely be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at six furlongs.

Here Comes Ben made it four consecutive victories - all at seven furlongs - and he owns a maiden win going a mile at Churchill Downs. He finished third in his only start going six furlongs in a maiden race over Keeneland’s Polytrack.

"I think we’re looking at the mile right now," Charles Lopresti, the trainer of Here Comes Ben, said Sunday after returning to Kentucky. "He’s fast enough, I don’t know if he’s fast enough going six furlongs. I think the mile would suit him. He broke his maiden going a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs."

Lopresti did not rule out the BC Sprint, especially in light of the news that Majesticperfection, the likely favorite for that race, will not make that race due to a condylar fracture he suffered in a Sunday morning workout at Saratoga.

"I don’t think we could beat that horse at six furlongs," Lopresti said. "Now that you tell me that, we could drop back to six or go the mile - we could go either way, to be honest."

Lopresti is leaning toward training Here Comes Ben up to the Breeders’ Cup, but did not rule out running one race in between. Lopresti said the horse was scheduled to ship from Saratoga to Keeneland on Thursday.

Trainer David Fawkes primarily ran Big Drama in the Forego because he didn’t want to face Majesticperfection - who beat him in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt - in the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park on Oct. 2. On Sunday, Fawkes was driving Big Drama back to Calder where he will train in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Fawkes said he would train the horse up to that race.

"I’m sorry I got beat, but I got time to refuel," Fawkes said. "I think he’ll run a better race with [nine] weeks."

Vineyard Haven, who finished third as the favorite in the Forego, came out of the race in good order. Assistant trainer Rick Mettee didn’t feel Vineyard Haven liked being down on the inside of horses in the Forego. Mettee said it is uncertain where Vineyard Haven would run off that race. The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile is still possible.

Girolamo, who got beat 4 1/2 lengths while fifth in the Forego, is likely to run in Vosburgh next, Mettee said.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Bribon, who finished sixth in the Forego, shed the frog, the bottom part of a horse’s foot which acts like a shock absorber, in his left front foot during the race. He said the horse would need a week to 10 days to recover.

Pletcher said Bribon would have to be supplemented to the Breeders’ Cup. If owner Derrick Smith opts not to do that, Bribon could be pointed to the Kelso at Belmont on Oct. 3 and then Cigar Mile.