Mufasa likely heading to BC Dirt Mile, trainer says

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Mufasa, winner of Saturday’s Grade 3 Vosburgh Stakes at Aqueduct, will likely be pointed to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile rather than the $2 million Sprint, trainer Ignacio Correas said Sunday. Both races are scheduled for Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

Correas said it is likely Mufasa will be pre-entered in both races.

In his native Chile, Mufasa won at distances from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. In three starts in the U.S., Mufasa has won twice at seven furlongs, an allowance at Colonial Downs and Saturday’s Vosburgh. He has never raced as short as six furlongs, the distance of the Sprint.

“I don’t know if he has the speed for six furlongs in America,” Correas said. “Those races, if you’re not two, three, four lengths from the lead, I don’t know if you can come back from farther back. It looks like the Dirt Mile is turning into one of the best Miles ever.”

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Horses like National Treasure, Domestic Product and perhaps Seize the Grey and Saudi Crown are among those looking at the Dirt Mile.

“I think there’s going to be a ton of speed in that race," Correas said. “There are a lot of good horses, but they’re a lot of good horses that go from the gate, and maybe they go too fast.”

Mufasa has a career record of 10 wins from 13 starts. He came to Correas in February after he made his first 10 starts in Chile. Mufasa is owned by Carlos Saavedera and Vendaval Stud.

“We only started dreaming about the Breeders’ Cup after his performance at Colonial Downs, but it was still just a dream,” Correas said. “He’s already accomplished a lot for all of us. Hopefully, he keeps doing more this year and the next one.”

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