Ivan Fallunovalot connections make plans for BC Sprint

OKLAHOMA CITY – Ivan Fallunovalot is back in triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure territory following his win Sunday in the $150,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup, earning a 101 in his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. It is the fifth triple-digit Beyer in six starts this year for Ivan Fallunovalot.

In the Sprint Cup, Ivan Fallunovalot settled into a stalking position before going on to a 2 1/2-length win. He covered six furlongs in a quick 1:08.42 while collecting his third stakes win of the year.

“What a great horse,” said trainer Tom Howard. “He answers it every time.”

On Monday, Howard said Ivan Fallunovalot emerged in good order from the Sprint Cup, and in the coming days, Breeders’ Cup plans will be formulated. The Grade 1, $1.5 million BC Sprint will be run Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

“That’s our next project,” said Howard, who trains Ivan Fallunovalot for Lewis Matthews Jr.

Matthews paid $50,000 to make Ivan Fallunovalot eligible for the Breeders’ Cup, and the horse’s connections are hopeful he will get into the BC Sprint.

Ivan Fallunovalot is based at Remington and likely will complete his preparation for the Breeders’ Cup at his home track unless weather dictates he have his final work at Keeneland, said Howard. At present, Howard said he is in favor of shipping Ivan Fallunovalot to Keeneland the week of the Breeders’ Cup. The horse’s regular rider is Calvin Borel.

Ivan Fallunovalot earned his best Beyer (107) back in January in winning an optional $50,000 claiming sprint at Oaklawn. He then paired up 104 Beyers at the track in February and March, when he took the King Cotton and finished second in the Hot Springs.

Ivan Fallunovalot closed out his Oaklawn season with a 102 Beyer for a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap in April. Following time off, he returned to action Aug. 15 and captured the $75,000 David M. Vance at Remington, earning a 97 Beyer.

“After Oaklawn, we started this plan [to go to the Breeders’ Cup],” said Howard.

Howard said Ivan Fallunovalot was freshened over the summer, looking ahead to the Breeders’ Cup, and was penciled in for the Vance and Sprint Cup, the two major sprints for older horses at Remington. Last year, Ivan Fallunovalot won the Vance and finished a troubled fourth in the Sprint Cup. Overall, he is 11 for 19 in his career.

Matthews was represented in the winner’s circle Sunday by his daughter, Brooke, who lives in Oklahoma. Matthews is a resident of Arkansas.