Doug O’Neill has another ace up in his sleeve for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
This year’s Triple Crown changed the outlook of three certain individuals in the horseracing business and sport. Owner J. Paul Reddam was never perceived as an owner who was on the verge of winning something big, neither was trainer Doug O’Neill, and many
had never heard of a jockey named Mario Gutierrez before the 2012 Triple Crown.
But then came, I’ll Have Another, who changed all of their lives for the better, as he went on to sweep the first two legs of the 2012 edition of the Triple Crown by winning the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, and then going on to win the Preakness Stakes, but unfortunately
an injury sustained to I’ll Have Another diminished the chances of becoming the long awaited Triple Crown winner, as he had to sit out the Belmont Stakes and consequently retire to stud.
Although, he catapulted J. Paul Reddam, Doug O’Neill and Mario Gutierrez to stardom, and now the three will combine forces to cap off an already successful season by adding more success in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships this fall at Santa Anita Park.
Introducing the 2-year-old colt, He’s Had Enough, hasn’t made a roaring impact after breaking his maiden at first asking, but he is pointed toward the Grade 1, $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on 3 November.
Installed at 20 to 1, the Kentucky bred son of Tapit is considered the longest shot among 9, but O’Neill rates him higher than his odds, maybe because of his physical presence, a little more than his ex-stablemate I’ll Have Another, but the conditioner was
quick to point out his development mentally.
"He does things at the morning that make you say, 'Whoa! That's not normal 2-year-old stuff," O'Neill continued. "He's kind of been giving up a few lengths out of the starting gate (while racing), so I threw him into the deep end the other day by working
him out of the gate with a nice 3-year-old sprinter.”
He’s Had Enough’s recent work of six furlongs should set him up nicely going into the race, although he got outworked, but he turned in the distance in 1 minute and 12 2/5 seconds.
In his second race over turf in the Oak Tree Juvenile Turf Stakes at Del Mar, He’s Had Enough made a big move, but finished 6th.
He is currently exiting a dismal performance in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at two turns, where he tired to finish 11th.
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