Qurbaan connections hoping for Breeders' Cup Mile spot
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Photo:
Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Shadwell Stable's Qurbaan, who captured a dramatic nose score in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch while making his North American debut, is taking dead aim at the Breeders' Cup Mile.
The 5-year-old Speightstown chestnut campaigned mainly in France for trainer Francois Rohaut before arriving to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's care this summer. Sent to post at 13-1 odds under Irad Ortiz, Qurbaan overcame gate trouble before launching a determined bid to nail Forge at the wire of the 1 1/16-mile turf event.
Last out, Qurbaan rallied from near the back of a field of 13 in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on Oct. 6 to finish a strong third, defeated just 4 ¾-lengths by the victorious Next Shares.
The 5-year-old Speightstown chestnut campaigned mainly in France for trainer Francois Rohaut before arriving to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's care this summer. Sent to post at 13-1 odds under Irad Ortiz, Qurbaan overcame gate trouble before launching a determined bid to nail Forge at the wire of the 1 1/16-mile turf event.
Last out, Qurbaan rallied from near the back of a field of 13 in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on Oct. 6 to finish a strong third, defeated just 4 ¾-lengths by the victorious Next Shares.
Qurbaan worked four furlongs in 48.82 seconds on Friday morning over the Belmont Park main.
"He worked very well in 48 and change, galloped out well, and we'll try to work next Friday and hope he gets in the Mile. It might overfill. He doesn't have to get in, but we hope he gets in," said McLaughlin. "He does everything right in a race, he was a little wide at the Shadwell Mile and it was a little soft that day, so he might be better on firmer turf. But, he's a neat horse, tries hard, and has done very well for us. He fits in the race if we get in."
Godolphin Stable homebred Endorsed earned a lofty 89 Beyer Speed Figure for his Aug. 18 debut at Saratoga when a neck the best in a six-furlong maiden allowance event. The Medaglia d'Oro bay returned to action on Oct. 6 at Belmont in the Grade 1 Champagne but failed to menace when sixth in a race won by the convincing Complexity. McLaughlin said he will look for local options for Endorsed.
"We'll look maybe at the Remsen [Dec. 1, Aqueduct]. He's very talented but he didn't run that well [in the Champagne], so we'll, not back off, but just not go to the Breeders' Cup," said McLaughlin.
"We'll look maybe at the Remsen [Dec. 1, Aqueduct]. He's very talented but he didn't run that well [in the Champagne], so we'll, not back off, but just not go to the Breeders' Cup," said McLaughlin.
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