Stall thinking Breeders' Cup Classic with Tom's d'Etat

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Al Stall Jr. said Monday he is leaning toward skipping the early-season big-money events with Tom’s d’Etat and “pointing for a back-end of the year campaign” that would culminate with the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland.

Stall cautioned that he had yet to discuss plans with Gayle Benson, whose GMB Racing owns Tom’s d’Etat. On Friday, Tom’s d’Etat was a dominant 3 1/4-length winner of the premier race of the Churchill Downs fall meet, the Grade 1 Clark. The 6-year-old horse earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure, his sixth straight in triple digits, for his ninth victory in 16 career starts.

“Gayle was under the weather a bit over the weekend, and we haven’t really gotten into all the details yet,” Stall said. “But my thought is to maybe freshen him up a little and take a pass on these three big races,” referring to the $9 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29, and the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 28.

Stall noted that the first start for Blame after he won the 2009 Clark with him came the following May in the Schaefer at Pimlico. Blame went on to win the 2010 BC Classic at Churchill.

Meanwhile, Tom’s d’Etat already has arrived at Stall’s winter base, the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

“We’ll decide how to proceed with him shortly, I’m sure,” he said.