Baffert eyes a 'competitive' Breeders' Cup spot for Improbable
Depending on how the wagering plays out come Breeders’ Cup weekend, Bob Baffert could saddle the favorite in as many as three races: the Classic (McKinzie), Juvenile (Eight Rings) and Bast (Juvenile Fillies).
His fourth contender in the championships will offer a bit more of a price when Improbable cuts back in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Exiting a fourth-place finish in the nine-furlong Pennsylvania Derby (G1), the chestnut son of City Zip has worked toward a cutback in distance on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park, with his latest breeze Monday measuring 5/8 of a mile in 1:01.20.
“He’s been working really well. That’s the plan today,” Baffert said of the Dirt Mile.
This season, Improbable has gone as far as 1 1/4 miles when away as the betting favorite in the Kentucky Derby. He was placed fourth that day, then finished sixth in the Preakness at 1 3/16 miles.
The Dirt Mile will cut the WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing runner back to the distance at which he won his only race this season, the Aug. 25 Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar. Coming off the layoff, Improbable defeated King Jack, an impressive next-out stakes winner.
“You want to be competitive,” Baffert said. “The Sprint’s too short for him, and a mile and a quarter — I’m just not sure.”
Ahead of the Breeders’ Cup’s deadline for pre-entries, however, Baffert quipped, “We’ve got until what, next Monday?”
The Hall of Famer is wont to change his mind on these sort of things. And there are key decisions for other potential Dirt Mile runners to be made. Mitole, Omaha Beach and Catalina Cruiser — all top betting choices — have the Sprint as an option. Omaha Beach could also stretch out in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Other main Dirt Mile contenders include Coal Front, Mr. Money and Firenze Fire.
Improbable, a Grade 1 winner when starting his career 3-for-3 at age 2, is 1-2-0 in six starts this season. He donned blinkers when winning the Shared Beflief, but lingering issues at the gate, this time rearing up before missing the break of the Pennsylvania Derby, cost him win contention.