Practical Move targets Breeders' Cup Classic or Dirt Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. - Practical Move, who returned from a six-month layoff since a win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April to record his fourth consecutive victory in an allowance race on Friday, will be pre-entered later this month for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Dirt Mile to be run at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

The $6 million BC Classic is run at 1 1/4 miles, which would be a new distance for Practical Move. The Dirt Mile has a purse of $1 million.

Trainer Tim Yakteen was reluctant on Sunday to predict which race will work best for Practical Move, who races for Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley.

“We’ll see how the puzzle comes up,” Yakteen said. “It’s a long four weeks.”

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Practical Move won a one-mile allowance race as the 2-5 favorite on Friday, his first start since the Santa Anita Derby. Ridden by Ramon Vazquez, Practical Move was third in a field of four for the first six furlongs before taking the lead in early stretch. He quickly drew away to win by a comfortable four lengths, finishing in 1:35.14.

Practical Move earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98, slightly less than the career-best Beyer figures of 100 he recorded with consecutive wins in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles in March and the Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles in April.

“I was hoping to see what we saw,” Yakteen said. “I wanted to see his old self and that’s what we saw.

“He came back in excellent shape.”

A winner of 5 of 8 starts, Practical Move was rated as a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby on May 6 before he was withdrawn two days before the race because of illness.

Practical Move, who resumed training in the summer, was nominated to the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 30, but was not entered.

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