Zipse: Classy Slow Down Andy is improving at the right time

Five weeks out from the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, Slow Down Andy turned in a perfect prep with a dominant performance in Santa Anita’s Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes on Saturday.

I’ve admired the California-bred chestnut colt ever since he looked the part of a very nice horse in winning his career debut on Oct. 9, 2021, at Santa Anita. He’s talented and he’s game, but to be completely honest, I never knew whether the son of Nyquist had what it takes to win America’s richest race.

I loved his chances to score his first Grade 1 victory Saturday, and he outran my high expectations. The way he did it has me rethinking my belief of his chances in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Held out from the early races of 2023, the Doug O’Neill-trained 4-year-old is improving with every start. Now, after four races this season, he looks to be coming up to the race in ideal fashion.

On a track that he clearly likes, and the one that will host the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 4, he broke at the bell beautifully in the Awesome Again. His ability to start sharply from the starting gate should be a quality that comes in very handy against a deep field next month.

Setting down strong early fractions of 22.97, 46.91, 1:10.59, he ran his eight rivals off their feet en route to the impressive 2 1/4-length victory over a wet fast track. This free-wheeling style will be put to the test in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Slow Down Andy clocked the nine furlongs in an exemplary final time of 1:47.62, further highlighting the quality of performance.

In his previous race, the 10-furlong Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, he had been wrangled back and was less than pleased with the early proceedings as the flashy 3-year-old Arabian Knight made every pole a winning one.

It was clear that Slow Down Andy wanted to go after his younger rival at Del Mar, but his rider had other ideas. On Saturday, there were no such disagreements, and Slow Down Andy was a happy horse.

Arabian Knight likely will be the early challenge once again next month, but the way Slow Down Andy stayed on at Del Mar, beaten by only 1 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/4-mile race after being rank early, gives me strong hope that the son of a Kentucky Derby winner will be ready for the full 10-furlongs of the Classic.

With the win on Saturday, the Reddam Racing homebred raised his lifetime record to 14: 5-4-3 and increased his career earnings to $1,276,600. Most importantly, he earned his first career Grade 1 victory.

His four career graded-stakes wins have come at four tracks, on dirt and turf, and he is equally adept on dry or wet tracks. He also has never run a poor race in his home state of California.

As nice a horse as he is, I do believe that Slow Down Andy is deserving of being a Grade 1 winner. And with a solid third behind Cody’s Wish in Keeneland's Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) last year at 3, the best may be yet to come for the handsome chestnut.

In easily handling good horses such as Defunded, Señor Buscador, and National Treasure in the Awesome Again, he proved that he has matured into a horse of high caliber. But things will get tougher in his next big test.

As game as he is, I would love to see his regular rider Mario Gutierrez let him roll right from the outset next month. It’s clear that is what he wants to do. A speed duel with Arabian Knight could get him beat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but I’d rather see him run his race and let the chips fall where they may.