Juvenile firster Big Talker comes from solid family

Big Talker, who starts for the first time on Saturday in a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf at Del Mar, is the latest foal out of the prolific mare Not Unusual to reach the races.

Big Talker is a full brother to Big Score, a graded stakes winner who has earned $643,542, and a half-brother to the graded stakes winner Mucho Unusual, who has earned $507,715. Two other full brothers, Big Buzz and the stakes-placed Unusually Big, have earned more than $100,000.

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Big Talker, trained by Tim Yakteen for owner and breeder George Krikorian, has the credentials for a successful debut. The Mr. Big colt has a steady pattern of workouts since late May and will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.

“He’s going to benefit with some racing,” Yakteen said. “He’s come a long way recently. He’s starting to figure it out. We’ve got him to a certain level and racing will take him to the next level. We have some big hopes for him, obviously.”

Big Score won a similar race in his debut at Del Mar in late July 2016.

Big Talker is part of a field of eight. Flint Stroll, sixth in a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf at Ellis Park on July 4 in his debut, is the only runner with grass experience. Flint Stroll was recently transferred from trainer Rodolphe Brisset to Phil D’Amato.

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Big Talker is one of three first-time starters in the field along with Caisson, trained by Richard Mandella, and Rombauer, trained by Michael McCarthy.

Caisson, a War Front colt who will be ridden by Flavien Prat, worked six furlongs in a quick 1:13 on July 16.

“He’ll probably need one,” Mandella said. “We won’t use too much speed. Usually I set them back on the turf and let them finish.

“He shows some good ability, but not great on the dirt – yet. He might need to run once. We’ll start on the turf once and see what happens.”