BC Dirt Mile an Option for Private Zone
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Photo:
Courtney Heeney/NYRA
Although Private Zone's dominating gate-to-wire 3 ¾-length win in the Grade 1, $700,000 Priority One Jets Forego on Saturday
guaranteed a spot for him in the Breeders' Cup TwinSpires Sprint, trainer Jorge Navarro was already considering an alternative.
"The way he did that yesterday, why not the [Breeders' Cup] Dirt Mile? We have to see where Tonalist and Honor Code are going because those are two very nice horses, top horses. I think it is the Sprint we're sitting on top right now," said Navarro, as he was driving back to his Monmouth Park base. "We're going to the Breeders' Cup, but I hate to say which one right now. I'll get together with Rene [Douglas] this week and we'll make plans from there."
Douglas is the former jockey and managing partner of owner Good Friends Stable. Over the winter Douglas offered Navarro the chance to condition Private Zone, who closed his 2014 campaign with a win in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile, when he wanted the horse moved east and previous trainer Doug O'Neill did not want to relocate.
Although Navarro, who has 68 horses in his stable at Monmouth and another 17 at Gulfstream Park West now, was a relative unknown on the national scene, Douglas had faith and confidence in him. The Forego win was the 6-year-old gelding's fourth Grade 1 score, but the first for Navarro, who had 454 career wins through Saturday.
"The opportunity that was given to me is one in a million. I don't know if I'll ever get to train another one horse like this one. He is so special. This is a racehorse. He's an amazing horse to have around," said Navarro. "To tell you the truth, I was so excited about his win that my body was ready to explode after his race. But my wife and my kids were not around, so I am waiting until I get home so I can share that with them. I'll cry, laugh and really enjoy the moment, but I want to save it and do it with my family.
"I'm 40, but have been on the racetrack 26 years. Yesterday was the crowning moment," he said. "I believe it's going to get nothing but better from here."
With Private Zone in his barn, that looks like a safe bet.
"The horse is doing super today. I was pretty amazed at the way he came back from the race and how quick he cooled out. I can't believe how he came back; it's really good. He looked like he did everything so easy and he wasn't used. I am very pleased and happy with him," he said.
Source: NYRA Communications
"The way he did that yesterday, why not the [Breeders' Cup] Dirt Mile? We have to see where Tonalist and Honor Code are going because those are two very nice horses, top horses. I think it is the Sprint we're sitting on top right now," said Navarro, as he was driving back to his Monmouth Park base. "We're going to the Breeders' Cup, but I hate to say which one right now. I'll get together with Rene [Douglas] this week and we'll make plans from there."
Douglas is the former jockey and managing partner of owner Good Friends Stable. Over the winter Douglas offered Navarro the chance to condition Private Zone, who closed his 2014 campaign with a win in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile, when he wanted the horse moved east and previous trainer Doug O'Neill did not want to relocate.
"The opportunity that was given to me is one in a million. I don't know if I'll ever get to train another one horse like this one. He is so special. This is a racehorse. He's an amazing horse to have around," said Navarro. "To tell you the truth, I was so excited about his win that my body was ready to explode after his race. But my wife and my kids were not around, so I am waiting until I get home so I can share that with them. I'll cry, laugh and really enjoy the moment, but I want to save it and do it with my family.
"I'm 40, but have been on the racetrack 26 years. Yesterday was the crowning moment," he said. "I believe it's going to get nothing but better from here."
With Private Zone in his barn, that looks like a safe bet.
"The horse is doing super today. I was pretty amazed at the way he came back from the race and how quick he cooled out. I can't believe how he came back; it's really good. He looked like he did everything so easy and he wasn't used. I am very pleased and happy with him," he said.
Source: NYRA Communications
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