Giant Expectations headed for Damascus or BC Dirt Mile

Giant Expectations, second by a head to Catalina Cruiser in a thrilling running of the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes on Aug. 25 at Del Mar, may not start in a Breeders’ Cup race.

Trainer Peter Eurton said he considering running Giant Expectations in the $200,000 Damascus Stakes at seven furlongs on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita instead of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile the same day, although the Dirt Mile “is still open,” he said.

“I think he’s better going one turn,” Eurton said. “He can get into his own rhythm.”

In the Pat O’Brien at seven furlongs, Giant Expectations led by a head with a furlong remaining but could not hold off Catalina Cruiser in arguably the most exciting race of the summer meeting. Giant Expectations finished 4 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher American Anthem.

Giant Expectations, who races for Gatto Racing, Exline-Border Racing, and Garett Zubok, has won 4 of 22 starts and earned $1,336,600. He is winless in nine starts since winning the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes in December 2017 at Santa Anita. Giant Expectations was beaten a nose in the Commentator Stakes for New York-breds on May 27 at Belmont Park. The Pat O’Brien Stakes is his only subsequent start.

The Eurton-trained Draft Pick, second in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 17, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Sunday at Santa Anita for the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 28. The $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes is a prep for the BC Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Nov. 2.

“He’s training well over this surface,” Eurton said. “I like the mile and an eighth.”

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stable, Draft Pick has won 3 of 12 starts and earned $507,480.