Mind Your Biscuits could point to BC Dirt Mile

ELMONT, N.Y. - Mind Your Biscuits solidified his position atop the nation’s sprint division with yet another electrifying performance Saturday at Belmont Park, an easy 3 1/2-length victory over Awesome Slew in the Grade 2 Belmont Sprint for which he received a 106 Beyer Speed Figure as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

But if there was any good news coming out of the race for the rest of the division Sunday morning, it’s the fact trainer Chad Summers has not completely ruled out the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, rather than the Sprint, as an option for Mind Your Biscuits later this year.

“We’re probably looking at 90-10 since he’s so good at what he does, but it’s something to consider, especially when looking down the road at the bigger picture next January,” Summers said. “Right now seven furlongs is perfect for him, it’s probably his strongest distance, but for the Breeders’ Cup we’ve either got to cut him back to six or stretch him out to a mile and to be honest, I think this horse could be even better going farther,” Summers said.

Mind Your Biscuits finished fourth, beaten 6 1/4 lengths by Governor Malibu, in his only previous try at a mile in a maiden race during the fall of his 2-year-old campaign.

“That was my fault, I told the rider to move him early trying to get a jump on Governor Malibu, [whom] he wouldn’t have beaten anyway that day although we could have been second,” Summers said. “But obviously my horse is a lot more mature and a lot better now than he was back then.”

Summers said Mind Your Biscuits came out of the Belmont Sprint in good order, that he didn’t leave an oat in his feed tub after the race and was bouncing around the shed row Sunday.

:: Get a jump on the Saratoga meet and save on PPs, wagering strategies, and more

“I just thought he was so impressive the way he ran away so easily from a really good horse like Awesome Slew like he did,” Summers said. “Joel never hits this horse, but he did tap him once yesterday, and when he did, it was all over. He just pulled away so quickly. I’m not sure this was his absolute best race, he wasn’t cranked up quite 100 percent like he was for Dubai, but it was close, and certainly a great race to come back with and build on down the road. And I think it should put us at the top of the division, at least until Drefong runs again.”

Summers said the seven-furlong, Grade 1 Forego is likely next on the agenda for Mind Your Biscuits.

“One thing about winning the race yesterday and guaranteeing a spot in the Breeders’ Cup, it gives us options,” Summers said. “A lot of people thought we were crazy writing that $45,000 check to run him in the Sprint last year. It will be nice not having to write that check again this year. And oddly, while the seven-furlong Belmont Sprint was a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, the Forego, which is run at the same distance, is actually a “Win and You’re In” for the Dirt Mile.”

Summers said Mind Your Biscuits will not go back to the track to train until shipping to Saratoga later this week.