Rounding Out Belmont and Heading to Breeders’ Cup

It was great to get back in the winners’ circle with Caught a Heater, who broke his maiden first time out by 2 ½ lengths on October 16, and again this past Saturday with Brother O’Connell’s win in the Mohawk Stakes. It had been a bit of a tricky meet up until a couple of weeks ago, but despite bad weather and some bad luck, our horses pulled through and we look to close out the Belmont meet in good form.

Now, hold on a minute! Breeders’ Cup is next weekend! How astonishing!! Haveyougoneaway had her final serious breeze on October 13, clocking 5-furlongs in 58.55. I wanted to tighten her up a bit and get some air through her lungs, but really I needed her to show me she was ready and that’s exactly what she did. I’ve had some other trainers question the gap between races, and I have to say I do completely agree that it is a lot to ask of her off a two-month layoff, but she’s been running so hard all year.

In her work last week, she actually started behind a pair of horses that were about an eighth-of-a-mile in front. They were working a little longer than her, but she caught them on her gallop out. She had to take dirt for 3/16 of a mile and then move outside of horses and go past them – it was almost like she ran a race, which was perfect. When she came back jogging, I was happy to see she still had more in the tank. If all goes well on Thursday and Friday, she will ship to California on Sunday and Maggie and I will arrive on Monday. Dan Blacker, who is a great friend of mine, has agreed to host us in his barn for the week and will be looking after Haveyougoneaway until we arrive on Monday afternoon.

The plan at Santa Anita is to jog a mile on Monday and Tuesday, gallop over the track on Wednesday, jog on Thursday; she won’t leave the barn on Friday and will jog with a pony on the morning of the race. It’s rather unconventional, but this is the schedule I used into the Ballerina and Honorable Miss and it has done her very well.

Our jockey situation is still up in the air as Todd Pletcher is trying to figure out whether to run Curalina in the Distaff or the Filly and Mare Sprint. I obviously would like John Velazquez to ride my filly, but he and Todd go back a long time and I completely understand where Todd is coming from in regards to his filly. The decision will likely be made at the last moment and in the scenario that Johnny is not available; the very talented Florent Geroux will take the mount.

It looks to be a very exciting next few days and I am really looking forward to experiencing Santa Anita for the very first time. Maggie and I are going to cut it close on Monday, but if all goes well we do plan on making it out to the Distaff and Classic draw to say hello to everyone. Dare I say it… The best is yet to come!