Sorcerer's Stone punches ticket to Breeders' Cup

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Sorcerer's Stone might not slip into the Breeders' Cup through the back door, not after an 8 1/2 length win Sunday in the on closing day at Arlington.

In fact, Sorcerer's Stone looked like a legitimate Breeders' Cup Juvenile horse, setting a stakes record of 1:35.16 for one mile on dirt in his blowout win over eight opponents in the Grade 3, $200,000 Futurity.

"He's on his way to being a nice colt, I think," said trainer Pat Byrne.

Sorcerer's Stone now has won all three of his starts. He debuted with a maiden win at Churchill Downs, beating, among others, Private Vow, who won the Grade 1 Futurity at Belmont on Saturday. On July 31, Sorcerer's Stone won an overnight stakes sprint at Arlington, after which Byrne sat on his horse, awaiting the Futurity.

During the down time, Sorcerer's Stone was privately purchased by Robert Sheppard, a San Diego businessman who watched his recent acquisition take apart a decent field late Sunday afternoon. With Mark Guidry up, Sorcerer's Stone contested the early pace with fellow Kentucky shipper and Ellis Park Juvenile winner Red Raymond, putting that horse away at the top of the stretch and drawing clear with a powerful finish.

"He was doing it real easy down the backside," Guidry said. "I waited till they got up to him before I asked him. He didn't want to switch leads, but that's about the only fault I could give him. I think he's a pretty nice horse, but time will tell."

Sorcerer's Stone set fractions of 23.08 seconds for a quarter-mile, 46.01 for a half, and 1:11.02 for six furlongs on his way to the stakes record. Charley Tango was a distant second, with Red Raymond third and even-money favorite Grand Survival checking in seventh of nine.

Sorcerer's Stone will return to Kentucky and train up to the Breeders' Cup, Byrne said.

"Five weeks should be perfect," he said.