Giant Expectations' Breeders' Cup chances 'all about the break'
Giant Expectations has nickeled and dimed his way into millionaire status.
A rarity in the sense that he’s a New York-bred based at Santa Anita Park throughout his lengthy career with trainer Peter Eurton, the son of Frost Giant sports a 4-5-4 record from 22 starts and earnings of $1,336,600.
A chunk of that was gleaned through minor awards, but Eurton is hopeful the versatile chestnut, still a full horse at age 6, can alter his modus operandi with a victory in Saturday's $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
“He loves to run second and third,” Eurton said. “He got beat a nose in New York at a mile (in a $200,000 stake restricted to state-breds on May 27) when he stepped on himself leaving the gate, then went five wide.“After that he got beat a head in the Pat O’Brien (at Del Mar Aug. 24). A mile should suit him and I’m not that concerned about how close the start is to the clubhouse turn.
“For him it’s all about the break.” He’s got that right.
A sample of some of his “trouble lines” from Daily Racing Form reads like a glossary of balked beginnings: “Hesitated, off slowly, off bit slow, stumbled, off slow, fractious gate, off slow, hopped, bobbled start, slow start, awkward start and stumbled.”
Seems if Giant Expectations didn’t have bad luck, he’d have no luck at all.
“Going a mile, if he breaks well, he can be there hanging out with anybody,” Eurton said. “Going seven-eighths, he tends to close.”
Asked who rides the reluctant runner, Eurton said, “Ortiz.” That's, as in, Jose.
A trio of 3-year-olds -- Omaha Beach, Improbable and Mr. Money -- figure to loom large in the Dirt Mile, which also includes the older multiple graded stakes winner Coal Front.