Formidable Man to train up to Breeders' Cup Mile

Formidable Man, winner of the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita in May but seventh as the 5-2 favorite in the Grade 3 Mint Million Invitational at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7 in his last start, will not race again until the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Formidable Man was beaten 4 3/4 lengths by the English shipper Haatem in the $1.36 million Mint Millions Invitational at a mile on turf.

“He never handled the turf course the other day,” trainer Michael McCarthy said.

“I knew an eighth of a mile away from the gate he was not enjoying himself. That’s called trainer error.”

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Owned by William and Suzanne Warren, Formidable Man has won 9 of 19 starts and earned $1,734,425. Aside from the Shoemaker Mile, Formidable Man has won six other stakes, including the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar in 2024, and the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita in March 2025.

Last November, Formidable Man finished second to Notable Speech in the BC Mile at Del Mar. He closed from seventh of 13 to lose by 1 1/4 lengths.

The Shoemaker Mile is Formidable Man’s most recent win. In the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on July 26, Formidable Man finished third by a head as the 7-10 favorite after a wide trip.

McCarthy has finalized plans for some leading turf runners in his stable.

Detain, second by a head in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile in his American stakes debut on Aug. 22, is booked to start in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 26. The winner of the $200,000 City of Hope Mile receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Mile.

Dash, the winner of a maiden race at a mile on turf in her third start at Del Mar on Sept. 5, and Ogle, third in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Sept. 6, are candidates for the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 4.

McCarthy said they could progress to the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 30, depending on the outcome of the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes.

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