Hushion and Schwartz to decide on either Sprint or Mile for The Lumber Guy
The 3-year-old colt, The Lumber Guy, got eligible to run in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, courtesy his victory in the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park, but owner Barry Schwartz and trainer Michael E. Hushion are also keeping the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile under consideration.
The Breeders’ Cup Sprint’s purse is $1.5 million and the Breeders’ Cup Dirt mile holds $1 million as purse, almost a difference of %50, but what Hushion and Schwartz are looking are at the chances of their colt winning a Breeders’ Cup race.
In the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, the defending champion, Amazombie, will return to defend his title in the 6 furlong sprint, and the 6-year-old gelding impressed in the Grade 1 Bing Cosby Stakes at Del Mar, when he kept The Factor at bay on 29 July, 2012.
Bill Spawr trained son of Northern Afleet is enjoying another good season with two victories and a single second and third place finish in four starts. His second victory of the season came earlier when he landed the Grade 2 Potrero Grande at Santa Anita over 6 ½ furlongs.
Also in the Sprint, there will be the Grade 1 Forego Stakes winner, Emcee, so the Breeders’ Cup Sprint poses a significant threat in the shape of aforementioned horses, but on the other hand the Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile has milder competition.
The winner of the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap, Jersey Town will be among the favourites after his 3 ½ length victory in the 1 mile event.
The second place finisher of the Kelso Handicap, Shackleford, along with the third and fourth place finisher, Trickmeister and To Honor and Serve, pointed toward the Mile as well.
“I guess the Mile would enhance his value as a stallion, but he’s already proven he can go a mile in the Jerome,” Hushion said.
The Grand Slam colt, The Lumber Guy has won 4 out of 5 one turn races, and that one loss came in the 1 1/8 mile long Peter Pan Stakes.
Whatever Hushion and Schwartz choose for The Lumber Guy, there will be ample amount of thought behind that decision.
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