Don Cavallo Headed to Pacific Classic
Don Cavallo, a comfortable winner of the Dominion Day Stakes on July 1 at Woodbine in Toronto, is headed for Del Mar and the $1 million Pacific Classic on Sunday, August 28.
Although he is a Kentucky-bred son of the Irish sire El Prado, the connections of the 4-year-old colt are deeply Canadian. Don Cavallo is from the Adena Springs breeding program of Canadian multi-millionaire (who also owns Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields among his racetrack holdings) Frank Stronach. Don Cavallo is trained by Hall of Famer and Canadian legend Roger Attfield.
“He has really developed over the last six months and is probably the best he’s ever been,” Attfield said of Don Cavallo Saturday morning from his training base at Woodbine. “He’s gradually improved mentally and physically.”
The improvement culminated with a 3 ¼-length victory in the Grade III, $200,000 Dominion Day Stakes, contested at 1 ¼-miles-plus on Woodbine’s Polytrack main course. The Pacific Classic is at 1¼ miles on Polytrack.
Consideration was given to running Don Cavallo in today’s Grade I, $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga, which is contested at 1 ½ miles on turf. But racing managers for Stronach’s stable preferred another Polytrack assignment for the colt who has three wins and a second-place finish in four starts on synthetic. Don Cavallo’s career record is 13 5-2-1 with earnings of $291,785.
“We sort of feel he might be better on the Polytrack,” Attfield said. “I hope (Del Mar’s) is similar to here, but I’m not sure about it.”
Plans are to ship Don Cavallo west on August 21. Arrangements have not been completed regarding the barn in which he will be stabled. The riding assignment has yet to be determined, but Attfield noted that Luis Contreras, leading rider at Woodbine and aboard for Don Cavallo’s last two starts and seven of the last 10, “knows the horse well” and would be given consideration.
Attfield said he has sent a horse to Del Mar to race in each of the last two years, recording a third-place finish with Perfect Shirl in the 2010 Del Mar Oaks. Attfield has yet to personally visit the track, however.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said.