Seize the Grey will run in Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
?q=100)
Seize the Grey, the Preakness and Pennsylvania Derby winner, will make his next start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 2 at Del Mar, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Tuesday.
Following Seize the Grey’s victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 21, Lukas had left the $7 million Classic, at 1 1/4 miles, open as a possibility. On Tuesday, Lukas said after conferring with the ownership group that includes My Racehorse and Gainesway Farm, the decision was made to run in the Dirt Mile.
“I just think he might be more tactically suited there, we’re a good fit there,” Lukas said. “They were leaning toward the Mile and I couldn’t argue with that.”
In the stallion deal that was made between MyRacehorse and Gainesway, there is an additional monetary kicker should Seize the Grey win a Breeders’ Cup race.
“You gotta win it to get it so I don’t think that had much to do with [the decision],” Lukas said. “We’re more concerned about seeing if we can get the best performance out of him we can.”
Since the Pennsylvania Derby, Seize the Grey has breezed twice at Churchill Downs. He went five furlongs in 59 seconds on Oct. 3 and five furlongs in 59.40 seconds on Oct. 13.
“He’s had two dandy works, he’s held his weight beautifully,” Lukas said. “I even let him two-minute lick a mile because I thought he might be getting a little heavy on me.”
The decision to run Seize the Grey in the Dirt Mile sets up a meeting between the last two winners of the Preakness as National Treasure, the 2023 Preakness winner, is also pointing to that race.