Woodbine handicapping roundup: Week of Nov. 23

Big Bazinga taking shot at Delta Jackpot

Grade 3 Grey Stakes runner-up Big Bazinga will contest Saturday’s $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot and could make some noise in the Grade 3 route for 2-year-olds.

Big Bazinga, trained by Katerina Vassilieva, made both of his starts over Woodbine’s Polytrack. He came on strongly from far back to land his Sept. 8 debut going a mile and 70 yards at 31-1. He led until deep stretch before finishing a close second to Ami’s Holiday in the four-horse Grey on Oct. 6.

Vassilieva said she was surprised by Big Bazinga’s eventful debut score.

“You never really know what kind of a horse you have until you run them, because there’s so much for them to deal with first time out,” Vassilieva said. “It was the first long race for 2-year-olds, and he really impressed us with the way he won. He had a bad break, was on heels on the first turn, and got slammed. There were a lot of bad experiences for him, and he could have stopped running, but he ran hard the last part.”

Vassilieva said nobody expected Big Bazinga to be on the lead in the Grey, a position he inherited.

“He’s a young horse who’s just learning what his style is,” Vassilieva said. “The first time, he didn’t really know what he was doing, and the second time, he was more prepared for the race. There was nothing we changed with training tactics. It was just the way he decided to run. It was fine, because he almost won.”

Big Bazinga worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds at Churchill Downs on Nov. 16. Vassilieva predicted that the son of Bluegrass Cat will make a smooth transition to dirt racing.

“He loves the dirt,” Vassilieva said. “He breezed really well at Churchill. He galloped out [five-eighths] in 1:01. He even had a couple of bullet works in a row on the training track at Woodbine.”

Vassilieva said she recently shipped Big Bazinga to Churchill to escape the cold Toronto weather and to help break up the long trip to Delta Downs.

“It would be a long way to go all the way through, so this is a logical stopping point,” Vassilieva said. “We’re flying the horse from [Kentucky] to Louisiana. He seems to be taking everything in stride.”

Big Bazinga is owned by Derby Dreamers Racing Stable of Robert Bates of Buffalo, N.Y.

Pedigree plays

It’s the time of year when pedigree handicappers should pay closer attention to the Ontario sires who are likely to produce late-blooming 2-year-olds.

Milwaukee Brew had several promising babies in action here last weekend, most notably Coltimus Prime, who graduated second time out by eight lengths with a 71 Beyer Speed Figure.

Other sires who fit the bill include Sligo Bay, Niigon, Philanthropist, Giant Gizmo, and Leonnatus Anteas, a freshman sire who produced recent allowance winner Man Cave.

Track trends

Oil is scheduled to be added to the Polytrack, which was balling up during the colder recent weather. The dirt training track, which was supposed to close down last Sunday, will remain open during the oiling.

Nov. 16: The inside was preferred on this mild Saturday afternoon. Horses racing on the inside two paths most of the way were victorious in eight of the 11 races. Among those with a wide trip who are worth following are Habemus Papam, Eat My Tapeta, Tapit’s Brew, My Bid, Teresa’s Pride, Checkered Past, and Celtic Conviction.

Nov. 17: The inside also was the place to be during this 11-race card. Two of the three-wide, closing winners were favorites. All the other winners had an inside trip if you include Coronation Futurity victor Asserting Bear, who raced in the two and three paths. Live wide runners included Cabo Queen, Doughmaker, Man o’ Bear, and Indian Guide, who salvaged third after his rider lost his irons and then regained them before dropping a rein in the stretch.