Onyx, Graceful Kitten might parlay stakes wins into Breeders' Cup runs

MIAMI – In Reality winner Chance It isn’t the only locally based 2-year-old who may have earned a trip to the Breeders’ Cup after winning a stakes last Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

The connections of both Onyx, who captured the $75,000 Our Dear Peggy to remain undefeated on turf, and Graceful Kitten, who remained unbeaten after his victory in the $75,000 Armed Forces, also are strongly considering tossing their hats into the Breeders’ Cup ring for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Juvenile Turf, respectively, on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

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Onyx rallied from near the rear of the field to an impressive three-length victory as the 1-2 favorite in the one-mile Our Dear Peggy. The win was the third in as many starts for the Arindel homebred daughter of Dialed In since being switched to the grass here this summer.

“We’re waiting for the final numbers to come in, but right now we’re leaning towards going to the Breeders’ Cup,” Arindel president Brian Cohen said. “Originally, the plan was to maybe run her once at Gulfstream Park West and bring her in fresh for the Gulfstream Park Championship meet. But the way she won and came back from the race Saturday, like she hadn’t even run, has us considering the Breeders’ Cup if the numbers are there.”

Onyx finished fourth in her first two starts, at Belmont Park and Gulfstream, both on the dirt. Trainer Juan Alvarado switched her to the turf and dropped her in under a $50,000 claiming tag, and she won her maiden on July 18 after which she returned to upset the Sharp Susan Stakes at Gulfstream six weeks later.

“She was showing speed on the farm, which is why we sent her to New York to run early on,” Cohen explained. “And she kind of disappointed us. But her pedigree suggested she wanted distance, which is why we ultimately moved her to the grass to give her the opportunity to go further. And so far it’s worked out.”

Graceful Kitten was destined for the turf all along, being a son of Kitten’s Joy. And he has yet to disappoint, keeping his record unblemished after three starts with a wire-to-wire two-length tally in the one-mile Armed Forces. Graceful Kitten won the Proud Man in similar fashion four weeks earlier.

Amador Sanchez, who trains Graceful Kitten for the Super Super Stable, said immediately after the race on Saturday that the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf would definitely be the next objective.

“He’s a good horse,” Sanchez said. “Every time we ask for more, he gives us more. He does everything right. So we’re going to try for the big score and go for the Breeders’ Cup.”