Giant Expectations's Breeders' Cup plans are fluid

ARCADIA, Calif. – By late Saturday afternoon, the 4-year-old colt Giant Expectations could have a new race goal for the Breeders’ Cup.

Giant Expectations starts in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, and although he is using the race as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, trainer Peter Eurton said he would consider switching him to the Sprint if he were to win.

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Giant Expectations fits in the $300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship. He won the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs in his stakes debut Aug. 26 at Del Mar, earning a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 3 at Del Mar.

The winner of the Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs will receive a fees-paid berth for the BC Sprint at six furlongs on Nov. 4.

Leading to the Santa Anita autumn meeting, Giant Expectations was being considered for the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles last Saturday, but only briefly.

“That race came up really salty,” Eurton said. “There was no reason to do that.”

Distance races are in the future for Giant Expectations, who won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park earlier this year by 9 3/4 lengths.

“I think next year, we might look for a race at a mile and an eighth,” Eurton said.

Giant Expectations has won 3 of 10 starts, with all the wins since late May. Giant Expectations did not start for 11 months, from the summer of 2016 until May because of lung problems. Eurton trains Giant Expectations for Ryan Exline, Justin Border, and Dan Gatto.

The list of expected starters in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship is led by Ransom the Moon and Roy H, the first two finishers in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs July 29 at Del Mar. The race is expected to have a small field.