Velazquez to ride Formidable Man in Breeders' Cup
?q=100)
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has been booked to ride the Grade 1 winner Formidable Man in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
The decision was made earlier this week, trainer Michael McCarthy said. Umberto Rispoli has ridden Formidable Man in his last eight starts, a span that includes six stakes wins, but is booked to ride Johannes, an eight-time stakes winner.
With the mount open on Formidable Man, McCarthy described employing Velazquez as a “no-brainer.”
“Talent aside, I have a lot of respect for the way he conducts his business,” McCarthy said.
:: BREEDERS’ CUP MILE: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more
Owned by William Warren Jr. and his wife, Suzanne, Formidable Man has won 8 of 15 starts and earned $1,165,425. A 4-year-old colt by City of Light, Formidable Man has won three of his last four starts. He won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in March and finished fourth in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile there in May.
At the Del Mar summer meeting, Formidable Man was unbeaten in two Grade 2 turf stakes, going favored in both races – the Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on July 27 and the Del Mar Mile on Aug. 30.
Johannes, trained by Tim Yakteen, worked a half-mile in 50 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday, his first workout since a win in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 27. Johannes was second in the 2024 BC Mile with Rispoli aboard.
Yakteen said Johannes will have at least two more workouts before the BC Mile.
On Breeders’ Cup weekend, Yakteen may run Third Beer in the $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on Oct. 31.
Third Beer finished second by a length in the Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes at mile on turf at Santa Anita on Sunday. Third Beer won his debut in a maiden race at a mile on turf for California-breds at Del Mar on Aug. 29.
Aside from the TAA Stakes, the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 30 is another possibility.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.
“I’m hoping he’ll continue to develop,” Yakteen said.
Third Beer, by Mendelssohn, races for Philip Lebherz.