Grey serves as Juvenile prep once again

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Macho Uno gave the Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes continent-wide recognition when he won it in 2000, before capturing the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile in his next start.

This year's running of the Grade 2 Grey, worth $273,500, is also a legitimate BC Juvenile prep, with the connections of Wando, Gigawatt, and Grand all eyeing that race, to be run on Oct. 26 at Arlington.

Wando should be favored in the 1 1/16-mile Grey. He won his first two starts, both on the main track, including the Vandal Stakes, and recently was a narrowly beaten second on turf in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes.

Trainer Mike Keogh doesn't think a route of ground on the main track will pose a problem for Wando, a son of Langfuhr and Kathie's Colleen.

"His mother won the Monmouth Oaks," Keogh said. "She didn't have a problem with a mile and an eighth. I don't see why he would."

Wando worked six furlongs in a sensational 1:11.80 over the main track on Sept. 24, a move faster than Keogh had wanted.

"I didn't plan on him going that quickly," Keogh said. "He likes to run horses down, so I had a filly break off about 10 lengths in front of him. She scooted off and really got ahead of him, but he mowed her down."

Keogh, who has secured New York-based rider Richard Migliore for the mount on Sunday, hopes that Wando will show he belongs in BC Juvenile.

"If he won, or was right there, then we would definitely think about it." Keogh said. "I think this race will give us a good gauge."

Gigawatt finished up the track when he debuted on July 7, but was a 17-length winner of his only other start, a mile and 70-yard maiden special on Sept. 1. A Wild Again colt owned by Stonerside Stable, Gigawatt is well regarded by trainer Mark Casse.

"He's always shown talent," Casse said. "I don't know why he didn't run any better first time out. He got an 80 Beyer when he won, which I think is very good for a 2-year-old going long the first time."

Grand is coming off a 23-length score in a minor stakes on dirt in England, in which he ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:54.80, and was subsequently sold to Team Valor Stable.

Completing the field are Colin Stakes winner Rights Reserved; Cradle Stakes runner-up Christmas Away; speedy Cyberdevil; and Brancusi, who was also entered in Saturday's Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont.