Piscitelli opens door to possible BC appearance

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Piscitelli passed several important tests last Saturday, rallying for third in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity in his first race away from Monmouth Park.

A 2-year-old trained by Greg Sacco, Piscitelli proved he could handle shipping to a strange track, a class hike, and a synthetic surface. All are important considerations if he goes all the way to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 7.

"It's certainly in the picture," Sacco said of the Breeders' Cup. "We'll talk it over and see where the next step will be in early October."

Options include the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 10 or the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont the same day.

Piscitelli has a win, a second, and a third in three starts. He would need another strong effort in either stakes to snare enough points to qualify for the Breeders' Cup if the race draws more than 14 entrants.

Sacco seemed to be leaning toward Keeneland, giving Piscitelli additional synthetic-track experience.

"After that, we could see if we're still on course," Sacco said. "We were pleased with his first attempt over it."

Piscitelli was well backed at 3-1 at Arlington, even though Sacco had never before run a horse there. Piscitelli didn't have an easy trip in that race, his stakes debut, and missed by 1 3/4 lengths to the unbeaten Dixie Band.

"We thought it was a great race," Sacco said. "He was six wide the whole trip and we didn't have the greatest racing luck. It wasn't a bad trip; it was a wide trip and he got beat less than two lengths. All and all, it was a good experience."

Get Serious may try BC Mile

Get Serious could also be Breeders' Cup-bound, following a third straight stakes victory last Sunday in the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes.

The training team of John Forbes and Pat McBurney are considering the Breeders' Cup Mile on the turf for Get Serious, a 5-year-old New York-bred gelding.

"It's in the back of our minds," McBurney said.

Like Piscitelli, Get Serious might be shy on points. The Red Bank was his only graded win in the streak. He captured the Oceanport here in his previous outing, a race that lost its Grade 3 status with a switch from turf to the sloppy main track.

"That hurt," McBurney said.

The hunt for graded stakes points could take him to the Grade 2 Kelso on Oct. 4 at Belmont or the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger at the Meadowlands on Oct. 3.

"If he was impressive in the next race, then it would be worth it to think about California," McBurney said. "How often do you get a shot to go to the Breeders' Cup?"

Volk mulls Fleet Valid's options

Scott Volk has more modest aspirations for Fleet Valid after the gelding extended his winning streak to four on Monday with a 2 3/4-length win in the Icecapade Stakes for sprinters.

The trainer is not chasing Breeders' Cup or Grade 1 glory with the horse, who has won all four races, including two stakes, since being claimed for $14,000 at Aqueduct in April.

"I've got to duck with this horse, and try to make the money," Volk said. "He's a good horse that returned to his old form."

Now 6, Fleet Valid kept very fast company in his younger days, running with the likes of Diabolical and Benny the Bull.

Volk ruled out the Grade 1 Vosburgh on Oct. 3 at Belmont. The next likely spot will be the $65,000 Eillo Stakes at the Meadowlands on Oct. 23 or the Grade 1 Frank De Francis Memorial Dash the following day at Laurel.