O'Brien plots Mendelssohn's path to Breeders' Cup Classic

After originally mentioning the Travers Stakes as a potential destination for Mendelssohn in his run up to the 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic, trainer Aidan O'Brien has updated plans.

“We’re training him for that," O'Brien said of the Dwyer. "Obviously, we’d have the choice — either that or the Eclipse — but we’re thinking that’s where he’s going at the minute.”

O'Brien said the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 22 would be the next step for Mendelssohn leading into the Nov. 3 Classic.

“Hopefully, then come Classic time he’ll be ready to obviously have all guns blazing hopefully at that time," O'Brien told AtTheRaces.com.

The Breeders' Cup Classic, which will feature older horses, runs this year at Churchill Downs, where Mendelssohn was bumped shortly after the break of the Kentucky Derby, then was swiped again entering the clubhouse turn before eventually eased by jockey Ryan Moore to a last-place finish.

“We knew before, when all the trainers and jockeys got so anxious, that it was a different world," O'Brien said.

“...It’s good experience for us. We’d never experienced that intensity before. But listen, it’s something we look forward to. Hopefully we go back the next day and get a nice run and go on again.”

Campaigned by Coolmore, Mendelssohn last year won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar and, upon switching to dirt in the Group 2 UAE Derby, won by 18 1/2 lengths. O'Brien said his horse did not take well to the slop, nor was he prepared to gun it from the gate, on Derby day.