Big Tom Prado Taking Big Step In American Derby

S. D. Brilie Partnership’s impressive Arlington International Racecourse allowance winner Big Tom Prado may take a step up in class next out in the Grade III $200,000 American Derby, according to trainer Christine Janks.

“(The American Derby) is definitely a possibility for him,” Janks said.  “I’ll talk it over with the owners.  They’re usually game.  He’s doing really well, now.  We don’t take that for granted.”

On June 14, the sophomore beat a field of nine state-bred older horses in his sixth career start in the 1 1/16-miles allowance in flashy style - diving between horses in the closing strides under Sheldon Russell and getting up by three-quarters of a length.  The victory earned him an 88 Equibase Speed Figure and was his first victory since his debut at Arlington in September 2013.

“I actually did expect him to run really well,” Janks said matter-of-factly.  “He looked outstanding to us on the turf last year.  He ran well in Kentucky on the grass (finishing third in his second career race as a juvenile) with a bad trip.  He probably should have been second that day.

“Then, we tried him on the dirt (third race) and Polytrack (fourth) in his next two spots because they came up and we were running out of options.  His (fifth) race was on the grass May 24 and was his first hard race in five weeks.  He definitely had excuses.”

Though the trials of the young gray gelding’s career have not always been immediately fruitful, they may be paying dividends in the homebred’s fitness level.  In addition to winning the race last Saturday, he also threw a bullet work in :59.20 (best of 39) on the previous Sunday.

“I think we’re pretty well set right now.  He’s very fit and we definitely know he’s a good horse because he was able to overcome all of our experiments,” Janks concluded.