Glatt pondering Breeders' Cup prep options for Blackjackcat

DEL MAR, Calif. – Blackjackcat won the most important race of his career in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile last Sunday, a key prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile here Nov. 4. Now trainer Mark Glatt is concerned Blackjackcat must accomplish more to secure a berth in the BC Mile.

Glatt said he is reluctant to ship Blackjackcat out of California and is hoping to use the $75,000 Obviously Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 7 as a prep for the BC Mile.

“By winning that race the other day, is that good enough?” Glatt said Thursday. “Will that be enough credentials? Does he have to do something big and better than the $75,000?

“I’d hate to have a legitimate shot and be on the outside looking in.”

The Obviously Stakes is being run in place of the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile because of purse constraints this year.

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Glatt said that shipping to lucrative Grade 1 races such as the Woodbine Mile in September and Shadwell Mile at Keeneland in October has limited appeal because Blackjackcat has never traveled to race.

“You don’t know how he’ll go,” Glatt said. “I don’t want to interrupt his schedule to do that. It doesn’t seem worthwhile.”

Owned by Al and Sandee Kirkwood, the 4-year-old Blackjackcat is perfect in two starts at Del Mar this summer, having won the restricted Wickerr Stakes at a mile on turf in July.

Glatt is in the midst of his best Del Mar summer meeting, with 12 wins through Wednesday. He was second in the trainer’s standings to Phil D’Amato. The meeting ends Sept. 4, and Glatt has important runners to start in the next week, notably Sharp Samurai in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 3. Sharp Samurai won the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 6.