BY BROCK SHERIDAN
DEL MAR, CA—Wathnan Racing’s Cagliostro has been assigned 30-1 longshot morning line odds in the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile as he tries to avenge his last out loss to Three Technique and Tumbarumba in the Grade 3 Ack Ack at Churchill Downs. The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile has attracted a full gate of 14 3-year-olds and older in the day’s final race on the 12-event card.
While trainer Cherie DeVaux said a sloppy and sealed track contributed to his third-place finish in the Ack Ack, she acknowledges that he will face a more accomplished field Saturday. The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile field includes Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial-winner Domestic Product; $150,000 R. A. Cowboy Jones-winner Saudi Crown and Grade 1 Preakness-winner Seize the Grey.
“He’s been in good form all year, so we’re trying to see what he can do out here against tougher company,” DeVaux said. “It’s a two-turn mile, which he can handle. So with all that being said, he’s going to have to run one of his top races and improve a bit, but I think it’s in there for him.”
Despite the increased level of competition, DeVaux said her biggest concern is the 11 post position, putting more pressure on regular rider Jose Ortiz.
“The post is a concern,” DeVaux said. “You know Jose has been on him most of the year so he knows him. So [Ortiz] is just going to have to play the break and get over and save ground in the first turn. He’s not a horse that needs the lead. So if we can get a nice stalking trip again, it’s really going to be up to Jose to get that done.”
While his only stakes victory this year came in a front-running victory in the $279,000 Hanshin going a mile at Churchill Downs in June, Cagliostro has shown he can come from off the pace as well. After stumbling badly at the start of the Grade 1 Forego going seven furlongs in August at Saratoga Race Course two starts back, Cagliostro made a courageous late run to get fourth. Last year in June, Cagliostro fell a neck shy of catching winner Scotland in a $100,000 optional claiming at Churchill after running eighth during the early stages.
Cagliostro has produced a consistent lifetime record of three wins, four seconds and two thirds in 13 career starts while earning $496,668. He is by Upstart out of A Rosefor Isabelle, by Hard Spun and was bred in Florida by Lance Colwell and Janice Clark.
DeVaux purchased Cagliostro for $385,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where he was consigned by Two Oaks Equine.
Domestic Product is the 7-2 morning line favorite for the Dirt Mile and will break from post nine with jockey Flavien Prat.
The Chad Brown-trained 3-year-old colt looks to build on his two-race winning streak having won the one-mile Dwyer (G3) at Aqueduct on July 6.
The winner of the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby in March, Domestic Product has won four of nine career races with two seconds while racking up $729,200 in earnings.
The field for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile includes Saudi Crown with Florent Geroux named to ride, Ryusei Sakai will guide T O Saint Denis (Jpn), Full Serrano (Arg) and jockey Joel Rosario, Katonah will have Frankie Dettori in the irons, Three Technique and rider Rafael Bejarano, Seize the Grey will have Jaime Torres up, Tumbarumba and jockey Luis Saez, Sheldon Russell takes the call on Post Time, Juan Hernandez will ride Muth, Mufasa (Chi) will have Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle, Pipeline with John Velazquez in the saddle and Skippylongstocking will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.
Post time for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile is 8:25 p.m. EDT. It will be shown live on Peacock and FanDuel TV.
