It wasn't the victory they wanted, but finishing second in the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) wasn't a bad consolation prize for trainer Gustavo Delgado and his son and assistant, Gustavo Jr.
His 3-year-old The Puma was the closest to Sovereignty at the end of the 1 1/4-mile Longines Classic. He was beat by 1 3/4 lengths.
"The goal is to win," Gustavo Sr. said outside his Rice Road barn Sunday morning. "He is the baby, 3-years-old. Yesterday was a very strong race with Sovereignty and Forever Young. It was not an easy race. We are happy with him."
Gustavo Sr. said The Puma will head back to his base at Gulfstream Park Nov. 4. He said he hopes the horse stays in the barn instead of being turned out.
"I like to watch him every day," he said. "The future is very good for him."
Gustavo Jr. said no plan has been mapped out for The Puma for next year. The ultimate goal would be to return to the Breeders' Cup for another try in the Classic.
"We don't think too far ahead," Gustavo Jr. said. "But the Classic next year sounds pretty good."
The Puma, unraced at two, had two wins, three seconds and a third this year. His biggest win was the Pennsylvania Derby (G1).
Brown Wins Two Breeders' Cup Races
Trainer Chad Brown was all smiles on Sunday morning.
"Both fillies came out great," the now-21-time Breeders' Cup winner said. "Both are at Fasig-Tipton getting ready for the sale."
Michael J. Caruso and Michael Dubb's Kathynmarissa exited her triumph in Saturday's $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in good order. She was a record-extending fifth winner in the race for Brown.
Interestingly, like all of his previous winners--Zagora (2012); Dayatthespa (2014); Stephanie's Kitten (2015); and Sistercharlie (2018)--she was not the favorite in the race. Sent off as the 5-1 third choice, she closed from fifth to win by three-quarters of a length, solidifying her claims for an Eclipse Award by besting another leading contender for Champion Female Turf Horse, Gimme a Nother (SAF).
Kathynmarissa became 2015 Horse of the Year American Pharoah's second Breeders' Cup winner, following 2019 Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) champ Four Wheel Drive.
Klaravich Stables' homebred superstar Ways and Means likely signed off on an epic career Saturday by giving trainer Chad Brown a record-extending fourth victory in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Asserting herself turning for home, she crossed the wire 6 1/4 lengths in front as the even-money favorite. The margin of victory tied the largest ever, along with 2020 winner Gamine, also at Keeneland. Brown has now won three of the four Filly & Mare Sprints held at Keeneland.
While the daughter of Practical Joke is expected to have run her last race, she will sell as a racing or broodmare prospect on Monday at Fasig-Tipton's 'Night of the Stars' November Sale as hip 161. Kathynmarissa will sell on as hip 208.
Plans Uncertain for Dirt Mile Winner Further Ado
Spendthrift Farm announced on Sept. 21 that it would stand its color-bearer Further Ado, as well as fellow Grade 1 winner Baeza, in 2027, making it a reasonable assumption that Further Ado's final start would come at the Breeders' Cup. But on Saturday night, after Further Ado prevailed in a photo finish over Flying Dutchmen's Owen Almighty to win the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), the picture looked a little less certain.
Sunday morning, Further Ado's connections were still savoring his dramatic victory -- his fourth graded stakes win for trainer Brad Cox -- and had no final decision yet on if the Gun Runner colt will train on in 2027 or take the short van ride to the Spendthrift Farm stallion barn.
On Saturday night, Spendthrift owner Eric Gustavson indicated a decision would likely not be announced until Monday or Tuesday, weighing joining the stallion ranks on a high versus the possibility that the 3-year-old, like his sire, could improve as a 4-year-old.
"We're in the business of standing stallions, so it's really tempting to go to the shed after this, off a big win like that," Gustavson said.
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