Breeders' Cup Giant Killer Hofmans seeks Classic upset with Melatonin
Meet David Hofmans, the Giant Killer of the Breeders’ Cup.
Consider the fact that he saddled Adoration, at 40-1 the longest shot on the board, to win the 2003 Distaff under Patrick Valenzuela; Desert Code at 36-1 with Richard Migliore up to win the 2008 Turf Sprint; and Alphabet Soup to upset two-time Horse of the Year Cigar in the 1996 Classic with Chris McCarron aboard at a $41.70 win payoff.
His next task could be his most daunting, however, sending out Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup at Santa Anita winner Melatonin after an absence of more than four months to tackle streaking 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome in the $6 million Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday, Nov. 5.
“He loves to run fresh, I know that,” said the 73-year-old Hofmans of Melatonin, a five-year-old gelded son of Kodiak Kowboy owned by Susan Osborne’s Tarabilla Farms, Inc. “Unfortunately, I missed a race with him before the Classic so we have to come into what is probably the toughest race of his life off of works.
“I know the horse is doing really well right now. He reminds me of Alphabet Soup. They both try real hard every time and they’re both so smart.
“I thought Adoration and Alphabet Soup had good shots to win, despite their odds. Desert Code, I wasn’t too sure about, but I think Migliore was a big part of that. He really wanted that win and he rode the horse like he did, and I think he got every bit out of him.
“But all three horses were like Melatonin, peaking at the right moment.”
In other Breeders’ Cup news:
Jerry Hollendorfer said unbeaten two-year-old filly champion of 2015 Songbird would have her last breeze next Sunday prior to the $2 million Longines Distaff on Nov. 4.
Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist (Classic) “is galloping daily and looks great,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “If all goes well he’ll breeze a mile on Thursday, come out of that good and gallop into the Big Dance.”
Union Strike (Juvenile Fillies) worked seven furlongs Sunday under Martin Garcia in company with The Strip for trainer Craig Dollase. The two fillies were timed in 1:27.80 and 1:28.60, respectively.
Gun Runner (Dirt Mile) worked five furlongs for Steve Asmussen in 1:00.40.
On the dirt training track, Hunt (Turf Sprint) worked six furlongs in company with Metaboss for Phil D’Amato, getting a time of 1:15, while Metaboss was clocked in 1:16.20.
Also on the training track for D’Amato, Obviously (Mile and Turf Sprint) went four furlongs in 48.80, breezing, while Bowies Hero (Juvenile Turf) went four furlongs in 50.60 to stablemate Billy Big’s 51.80.
Multiple Grade II turf stakes winner Ashleyluvssugar worked five furlongs for Peter Eurton in 1:02.20.
Source: Santa Anita Park