Never Retreat and Giant Oak primarily Chris Block’s Breeders’ Cup prospects
Trainer Chris Block is aiming high, when he send his 5-year-old horse Giant Oak and his 6-year-old mare Never Retreat to represent him in the Breeders’ Cup races, which are to be held at Churchill Downs on 4 and 5 November, 2011.
The Chicago based trainer could have two starters in the Breeders’ Cup races next month or he could have none, and his two most experience runners are headed to Churchill Downs with a lot of hope.
The son of Giant’s Causeway, out of Crafty Oak by Crafty Prospector, Giant Oak is aiming at the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Marathon on 5 November, 2011.
Giant Oak won his season opener, the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on dirt over at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park on 5 February, 2011, where he defeated Morning Line and Rule, with the winning time of 1 minute and 48.23 seconds.
The win came at the back of another win last year, which was the last race of the 2010 season for Giant Oak, the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Since those back to back wins, Giant Oak had been unable to convert any of the next starts into wins. His best effort’s been third twice but other than that he has finished 5th pretty consistently in 7 starts this season.
The daughter of Smart Strike, out of Lisieux by Steady Growth, Never Retreat is to make her next start in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on 4 November, 2011, at Churchill Downs.
Never Retreat has been in good form throughout the season, and she has coming off two back to back wins in graded stakes races.
The experienced mare won the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine on 18 September, 2011, over at 1 1/8 miles where she completed the distance in a good 1 minute and 45.13 seconds.
She is coming off an excellent performance in the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on 8 October, over at a mile, where she defeated Together and Daveron with the winning time of 1 minute and 34.08 seconds.
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