High Providence inspires Breeders' Cup dreams

High Providence won a two-turn turf race for 2-year-olds like a horse with a future last Saturday night at Lone Star Park near Dallas.

He rallied from last for a 1 1/2-length victory in his career debut and handled a number of variables, including shipping from his base of Louisiana Downs.

“I thought he was pretty straightforward, did his job,” said Jason Meaux, who trains High Providence for Run For The Cross. “He handled the ship good, handled the paddock like a pretty good professional.”

Meaux said the next step for the horse could be the $60,000 Sunday Silence, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 9.

“We’re going to look toward the Sunday Silence at Louisiana Downs, and if he runs well, we’re going to look for a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In, most likely the race that comes up at Keeneland.”

The Bourbon on Oct. 8 is a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Meaux said the goal had long been to debut High Providence on the grass. The horse is by Wrote, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in 2011. High Providence is out of the winning Military mare Gonna, who is a half-sister to the millionaire Carve. High Providence’s third dam, Liable, produced Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame.

“That’s what really sold him for us, the bottom side on this colt,” Meaux said of the pedigree searched out by one of the partners in Run For The Cross.

High Providence was a $2,500 purchase last year at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.

“In this game, you always dream,” Meaux said. “You always start out with a 2-year-old saying, ‘What’s the plan? Where do we go with this?’ I like to dream big. The end goal for this horse, if he’s good enough, is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. It’s a big dream, but that’s what this game’s all about.”

Meaux will be in action Wednesday at Louisiana Downs with Biblical Strength, a leading contender in the first race, a non-winners-of-three-lifetime allowance for 3-year-olds and up bred in Louisiana.

◗ Safari Calamari goes in the fifth race Wednesday at Louisiana Downs, an optional $17,500 claimer for fillies and mares on turf that could serve as her steppingstone to the Louisiana Cup program, according to trainer Ron Faucheux.