Noholdingback Bear breezes for BC Sprint
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Noholdingback Bear returned to the Woodbine work tab Saturday, recording his first published work since winning the Grade 3 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing on Sept. 24.
Next for Noholdingback Bear is a trip to Santa Anita for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 5. Trainer Michael De Paulo said Saturday’s work, a four-furlong breeze in 48.20 seconds on the dirt training track, went well.
“He worked super,” De Paulo said. “He’s got two more five-eighths, and then he’s going to head off to California. Both works will be here on the training track.”
De Paulo said Noholdingback Bear would ship to Santa Anita on Oct. 30.
Noholdingback Bear will be De Paulo’s first Breeders’ Cup starter. De Paulo said he has attended several Breeders’ Cup events as a fan and even ran Noholdingback Bear on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Keeneland last year but is looking forward to being a participant.
“It’s great that the horse has done so well, and we think he deserves a shot at trying the best in the world,” De Paulo said.
Noholdingback Bear should get plenty of consideration for Canadian champion sprinter, regardless of his Breeders’ Cup result. He’s recorded four wins this season, including three stakes. He won his first graded stakes in the Gallant Bob. He’s placed in three other graded stakes, including the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga on Aug. 27, and broke the Woodbine 6 1/2-furlong record in an allowance race July 1.
Noholdingback Bear has been entered as Hip 158 in the Fasig-Tipton sale on Nov. 7.