The winner of the Grade II Super Derby, Strong Contender, will not be running in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic. The three-year-old horse is instead setting his sights (blinders off!) on the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
"We want to have a good, fresh horse for next yeat," said trainer John Ward Jr. Ward felt that the cumulative effect of training for and running in the 2006 Breeders' Cup would diminish the chances of having a strong handicapping horse next year. "We've put our best foot forward," Ward said further, "and decided to point him for a 4-year-old campaign.
The son of Maria's Mon has won four of seven career starts, with a victory in the Rade II Dwyer Stakes in addition to the Super Derby, and third place finishes in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and Peter Pan Stakes.
And it's no joke: It's No Joke will also not be making an appearance at this year's Breeders' Cup Championship. Trainer Rebecca Maker said "it's being realistic" to hold him back from the big race.It's No Joke is coming off his first Graded Stakes Win (G II) at the $50K Hawthorne Gold Cup, where he galloped to a one-length victory over A.P. Arrow with jockey Eusebio Razo atop.
Clark said she feels "he's a nice horse and can be a Grade 1 horse, if we manage him right." Part of that management is an entry in the Fayette Stakes (Grade III) on 28 Oct. at Keeneland, in preparation for the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on 28 Nov.
Technorati tag(s): breeders cup classic, breeders cup contenders
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