Report: Collected to travel for Breeders' Cup Classic

Photo: Zoe Metz Photography
Collected, hoping to draw into the field for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, worked seven furlongs in 1:25.20 on Sunday for trainer 
Bob Baffert at Santa Anita Park.

Joe Talamo
 was aboard the speedy 5-year-old colt while given fractional times of 25.20, 49.80 and 1:13.40, with a one-mile gallop out clocking of 1:40.60.

After the breeze, Baffert told BloodHorse's Jeremy Balan that he will ship Collected to Churchill Downs on a Tuesday flight out of California as connections wait for any potential defections from the Classic's prospective field.

It's the latest development ahead of Monday's entry deadline and post position draw. A full field for a Breeders' Cup race is 14, and as many as two also-eligibles can be listed for the Classic.



Bravazo, the first horse outside the $6 million race's Top 14, lists the $1 million Dirt Mile as a first preference. Gunnevera, who's second on the list, should be in by way of City of Light's preference to also go in the Dirt Mile.

From there, any further defections would first benefit Seeking the Soul, then Collected and Toast of New York.

Seeking the Soul is cross-entered in the Dirt Mile, too. If connections elect to enter him in the Dirt Mile where a spot is guaranteed, Collected would then move to the first out spot ahead of Saturday's race.

Baffert will be represented by 4-year-old West Coast and 3-year-old McKinzie in the Classic.

Collected has raced just twice this year, given the full spring and summer to freshen up following an off-the-board finish in the Pegasus World Cup. His return was uninspiring as the son of City Zip, campaigned by Speedway Stable, ran fourth as a heavy favorite in Parx Racing's Pa Derby Champion Stakes.

Since then, Baffert has warmed to the idea of forging ahead in the Classic based off the chestnut horse's works.

"I hope he gets in, because he's training really well — really since he ran in Pennsylvania," Talamo told BloodHorse after Sunday's breeze. "All his works since have been phenomenal — gallop outs good, energy good."

Collected finished second in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic to Gun Runner and is a previous Grade 1 winner.

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