One week after Hardest Core won the Arlington Million, another son of Hard
Spun locked up a spot in the
Breeders’ Cup Turf —
Big John B, who turned Saturday’s Grade 2, $201,250
Del Mar
Handicap into a rout. Bet down to 8-5 favoritism off a 7 1/4-length victory
over this Del Mar course and
1 3/8-mile trip, the former claimer aced his stakes debut and remained perfect
in three starts in the Michael House silks.
The Del Mar ‘Cap field was reduced by three scratches — Quick Casablanca,
who underwent emergency surgery for colic, according to
Vamos a la Hipica,
and the Pacific Classic-bound duo of Irish Surf and Ice Cream Truck.
Big John B was claimed for $50,000 out of a last-of-five effort at Keeneland
in April. In his first start for his new owner and trainer Mike Stidham, he was
awarded the victory via disqualification in a $40,000 claimer at Churchill Downs
May 26. Big John B was then transferred out west to Philip D’Amato and stepped
up markedly in trip. The five-year-old gelding rallied from the tail of the
field to take a 1 1/4-mile starter handicap at Santa Anita June 20, and last
time out here on July 30, he went last to first in his runaway
allowance/optional claiming score (where he was not entered for a tag).
With Hall of Famer Mike Smith back aboard, Big John B once again benefited
from patient handling in the early going of the Del Mar ‘Cap. The pace scenario
was in flux as Si Sage surprisingly found himself in the lead on the first of
three turns, then readily deferred to Cogito through an opening quarter in :23
3/5 on the firm turf. The 7-2 Bright Thought, a new stablemate of Big John B’s
from the D’Amato barn, also showed more of his trademark early foot and prompted
the leader.
But Unbridled Command moved up on their first run past the wire, and in
concert with Bright Thought, pressed Cogito through a half-mile in :47 3/5 and
put his head in front at the six-furlong mark in 1:11 2/5. As the field advanced
down the backstretch, Unbridled Command took sole command and opened up through
a mile in 1:35 3/5.
Big John B had likewise been improving his position, and surged into a
threatening second on the final turn. Blowing past Unbridled Command into the
stretch, he extended his advantage to 5 1/4 lengths and negotiated 1 3/8 miles
in 2:12 4/5.
Bench Light, another former claimer who was coming off a big
allowance/optional claiming win at the course and distance, got up to edge
Bright Thought for second and just deny the D’Amato exacta. Starspangled Heat
checked in fourth, followed by Unbridled Command; Poshsky; Si Sage; 7-2
morning-line favorite Fire With Fire, who went off as the third choice at 4-1;
the filly Topic, who lost any chance when her saddle slipped; and the tailed-off
Cogito.
Big John B paid $5.20 to win and upped his own mark to 28-11-5-3, $458,805.
Bred by Brylynn Farm in Florida, the dark bay sold for $30,000 as a two-year-old
in training at OBS June.
Big John B started out with trainer Mike Maker, breaking his maiden in his ninth
attempt in a $65,000 maiden claimer at Belmont in June 2012. He was haltered
that day by Repole Stable and joined Todd Pletcher, but didn’t race for those
connections until the following winter at Gulfstream.
Big John B captured his second start off the bench, but was again claimed for
$30,000, and this time went to trainer Bobby Dibona. He continued to be popular
at the claiming level, going to Jason Servis for $32,000 at Monmouth last
September, to Michael Trombetta for $25,000 at Gulfstream on January 11, and to
Michael Tomlinson for $35,000 at the same venue on March 9. House and Stidham
snapped him up after his lone outing for Tomlinson.
Out of the multiple Grade 3-placed stakes heroine Baldomera, a Doneraile
Court mare, Big John B is a half-brother to 2012 Bashford Manor winner Circle
Unbroken. He descends from the same family as ill-fated champion filly Landaluce;
Grade 1 turf stars Harmonious and Startac; and at a more distant remove, turf
champions Theatrical and Paradise Creek.
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