Zuma Beach final Breeders' Cup test for Big Fish

In his brief career, the 2-year-old gelding Big Fish has shown significant improvement in each of his two starts on turf, winning a maiden race Aug. 21 and the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 7.

Another successful race in Sunday’s $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes at a mile on turf could lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

“We have a lot to look forward to,” trainer David Hofmans said Friday. “If he does run well, we’ll look at the Breeders’ Cup.”

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Owned by Legacy Ranch, Big Fish was second and third in two maiden special weight races on dirt for California-breds at Santa Anita and Del Mar in June and July.

“We knew he wanted to go long and on the grass with his pedigree,” Hofmans said. “He’s maturing.”

By the Dynaformer stallion Mr. Big, Big Fish won the Del Mar Juvenile Turf by a length, closing from fifth in a field of 10 through the final half-mile.

The Zuma Beach, the fourth race on a 10-race program Sunday, drew a field of seven, including Ebeko, who was second in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, and Tarantino, the sharp winner of a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf in his debut Sept. 7 for trainer Bob Baffert.

“There are a couple of tough horses in there,” Hofmans said. “It’s not an easy race. The Baffert horse has to move forward. It looks difficult.”

Ebeko, an Irish-bred and -raced colt, had his American debut in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, closing from last to finish a length behind Big Fish.

“He had trained very well, and we thought he would run well,” trainer Peter Miller said. “We’re hoping for a step forward.”

Ebeko won an allowance race at seven furlongs at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland in July in his third and final start in that country.

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Tarantino, who starts from the rail in the Zuma Beach, was purchased for $610,000 as a yearling. He won the Sept. 7 race by a length after stalking the pace.

“He’s much better on turf than he is on dirt,” Baffert said. “I like the way he ran. It’s a good spot for him to see if he can move up to the next level.”

The Zuma Beach will be the delayed stakes debut of Caisson, winner of a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf in his second start Aug. 15. He was withdrawn from the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on race day and has since had three workouts at Santa Anita.

“He was coughing at Del Mar,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “He didn’t get real sick.”

Caisson, who was favored in his first two starts, will be fitted with blinkers for the first time in the Zuma Beach and has worked recently while wearing the equipment.

“I thought he’d be more focused, so I put blinkers on,” Mandella said. “I think it’s good for him.”