Notable Exception zigzagging to Breeders' Cup Juvenile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Although most runners in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita are trying to justify a trip to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile this fall at Keeneland, at least one is already guaranteed to ship.

Notable Exception will be stabled at Keeneland during Breeders’ Cup week, regardless of his performance Saturday at Santa Anita. That is because Keeneland happens to be home for the flashy debut winner owned and bred by Calumet Farm. And it begs the question – what is the Midwest-based colt doing on the West Coast anyway?

Notable Exception faces seven rivals in the American Pharoah, a Win and You’re In for the BC Juvenile. History is not on his side. It’s been 33 years since an out-of-state shipper won the American Pharoah, previously known as the FrontRunner and Norfolk. Regardless of race name, Notable Exception will need to be special to defeat the locals.

Spielberg stretches out from a solid second in the Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity; Get Her Number switches surfaces with an upset chance based on dirt works; Weston is a graded winner expected to set the pace; and Waspirant adds blinkers after a workmanlike dirt route maiden win. Touchdown Brown, Rombauer, and Dyn O Mite also entered. The American Pharoah is race 8.

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It seems odd Keeneland-based Notable Exception would ship to Santa Anita to prep for the BC Juvenile on Nov. 6 at Keeneland, his home track. Trainer Jack Sisterson has a method to his madness. He also trains a very good colt.

“From Day 1, when he got off the van, he just stood out,” Sisterson said. “He’s big, scopey, and looked more like a 5-year-old. He’s a big, two-turn type.”

Early workouts matched his looks, and Sisterson sent Notable Exception from Keeneland to Arlington for his debut in a seven-furlong maiden race Sept. 4.

He broke from the rail, was unbothered by pace pressure, and ran away by more than five, earning a 64 Beyer Speed Figure. When he returned to Keeneland and worked a bullet five furlongs on Sept. 19, heads-up with older Grade 1-placed Everfast, it was an easy call. Rather than wait for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity a week later at Keeneland, Notable Exception boarded a plane.

“He was telling us he was ready to run back, and we just felt while he’s doing well, let’s capitalize on the soonest race,” Sisterson said. “He wasn’t 100 percent [first out], but won on talent alone. He should improve a lot on Saturday.”

Notable Exception arrived early this week to train over the Santa Anita surface. He will be ridden by Abel Cedillo and try to become the first shipper to win the race since Washington-based Saratoga Passage in 1987.

Winning the American Pharoah is old habit for Bob Baffert. He has won the race nine times and trains the maiden Spielberg, a runner-up twice, including the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity.

“I really think he’ll be a better horse going two turns,” Baffert said. “He was in the one-hole [in the Futurity]. He had to sort of rush him. He’s not that kind of horse, to go 22.”

At two turns, the pace should be slower. Luis Saez rides Spielberg, whose likely pace rival is Weston. Winner of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes and third in the Del Mar Futurity, Weston is trained by Ryan Hanson. Strategy is not a secret.

“My horse, he wants to go,” Hanson said. “I’m really hoping he gets the lead by himself. I would hate to be in the position where three of them are going head and head. But I don’t want to take back either.”

Drayden Van Dyke rides Weston.