Owendale sets sights on Breeders' Cup Classic

Trainer Brad Cox said Monday that Owendale will make his next start in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

The Oklahoma Derby winner, Owendale also had been under consideration for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

“He breezed Saturday morning, his first work after the Oklahoma Derby,” Cox said. “He went great. We’re very pleased with him.”

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Owendale, who races for Rupp Racing, went a half-mile in 49 seconds at his base of Churchill Downs. He is to fly to Santa Anita on Oct. 29, said Cox, who is scheduled to have a career-high five starters in this year’s Breeders’ Cup.

Owendale’s regular rider is Florent Geroux, who fractured his sternum in a morning training incident Sunday, according to his agent, Doug Bredar. Cox said Monday morning that he did not yet know a timeline for the rider’s return, but that the mount on Owendale is Geroux’s for the taking.

“It’s his call,” Cox said Monday.

Bredar said Geroux is scheduled to see a specialist Monday. He said the rider had a battery of tests Sunday and will not need surgery. Geroux left the hospital about 5 p.m. Sunday.

“I don’t really know how long he’ll be out,” Bredar said, adding the rider was doing very well Monday.

Geroux guided Owendale to a 1 3/4-length win in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race Sept. 29 at Remington Park. The horse broke from the 10-hole, made a sweeping, four-wide move around the final turn, and defeated a strong field that included fellow graded stakes winners Mucho Gusto and Long Range Toddy.

The win was the third Grade 3 victory of the year for Owendale, who also captured the Lexington in April at Keeneland and the Ohio Derby in June at Thistledown. Cox said that Owendale has improved over the past six months. Owendale earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97 in the Oklahoma Derby.

Among Cox’s other intended Breeders’ Cup starters are Arklow in the Turf and Covfefe in the Filly and Mare Sprint.