Big Kick Possible for American St. Leger
Grade II San Juan Capistrano conqueror Big Kick is possible to ship to Arlington for the Listed $400,000 American St. Leger, according to trainer Mike Machowsky. The gelded son of Tiznow put on an imposing display of pace and resilience as he led wire-to-wire in the 1¾-miles event at Santa Anita Park on June 29. Leading by as many as 10 lengths on the backstretch, the 5-year-old bay seemed well within himself the entire race, including getting the first 1¼-miles in 2:02.69, and held off favored Quick Casablanca by 2¾ lengths at the end under Victor Espinoza.
“We’re looking at the St. Leger pretty hard,” said Machowsky. “With the turf situation at Del Mar, the owners brought it up to me last week. Then, (Arlington stakes coordinator) Gary (Duch) called me after we won the San Juan - so we are definitely looking at it. I know there’s a flight a week from today.”
Owned by the partnership of Ernest Marchosky, Ken Shaw, Kate Walters and Lo Hi Stable, Big Kick has come into himself with the addition of distance and grass racing in his last two starts. One race prior to the San Juan Capistrano, he wired a 1¼-miles allowance event at Santa Anita in eye-pleasing fashion - finishing well clear, despite going a half in :45.78 and a mile in 1:34.53.
“He’s a big, massive horse with a long stride and high cruising speed,” Machowsky explained. “He just needs to get into that rhythm and just picks it up as he goes. He has a unique style and that’s the way he wants to run.”
Despite his excellent speed, it is the distance that has made the difference for the Canadian-bred five-time winner. “I was trying for a while to get more distance races,” Machowsky said. “In fact, that 1¼-miles race was originally (in the book at) 1½ miles, but wouldn’t go. It was brought back and he still won. The distance is the number one difference with him, as well as his maturity. Being gelded also helped a little bit and he can now switch off.”
Big Kick worked Sunday morning over the Del Mar Polytrack surface, going seven furlongs in an impressive 1:26.60 for his connections. “He worked really good the other day and seems to be happy. We’ll make a decision later (Wednesday),” Machowsky concluded.
MOMENT IN TIME PROBABLE TO TAKE ON BOYS IN ST. LEGER
The last time trainer David Simcock shipped a mare from his English yard of Trillium Place to Arlington International Racecourse, he proved victorious with I’m A Dreamer in the 2012 edition of the Grade I Beverly D. This year, he is set to bring another 5-year-old mare, Moment In Time to the International Festival of Racing, but this time will combat the boys in the Listed $400,000 American St. Leger, if all goes well.
A daughter of German champion Tiger Hill, Eliza Park International Sun Kingdom’s Moment in Time exits a good second last out in the Listed Chalice Stakes at Newbury over 1½ miles, but has excellent back-class as recent as last year. Second in the Group II Lancashire Oaks at Haydock in July of 2013, she was a useful third in the Grade I E. P. Taylor at Woodbine in October to close out her sophomore year. In 2014, she has stayed almost strictly at longer distances and seems to be rounding back into form after an unbecoming winter in Dubai. The bay mare has competed seven times against males in her 23-race career, including a third to Group I winner Noble Mission in last year’s Tapster Stakes at Goodwood.