Correas Returns to Santa Anita With Blue Prize

Ignacio Correas IV, trainer of Breeders' Cup hopeful Blue Prize, hasn't been back to Santa Anita Park in 10 years. But you wouldn't know it from the many people who stop to say hello to him at Clockers' Corner.

A decade ago, Correas worked as an assistant to trainer Bill Currin, who died in 2014. It was the days of Hollywood Futurity (G1) winner Stormello, Beverly Hills Handicap (G2T) winner Memorette, and Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (G3) winner Bushwacker, all trained by Currin and owned or co-owned by Currin and his wife, Betty.

"It was fun—he was unique," said Correas of Currin. "He was one of those colorful persons you need in racing that are tough to replace because essentially what he did, he put his money where his mouth was. It was his money, his horses. He was good for the sport and good for the game."

Today, Correas is based in Kentucky. For John Moores and Charles Noell's Merriebelle Stables, he is pointing Argentine-bred Blue Prize to her second attempt at the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Correas has trained the 6-year-old daughter of Pure Prize—Blues for Sale, by Not For Sale, since Merriebelle acquired her in late 2016.

Both Correas and Blue Prize come from Argentina. Though he was not involved with her purchase, Correas did have a connection.

"It happened to be that her trainer (Jorge Mayansky Neer) was my best friend," said Correas. "I know him very well; I know how he trains. He has been my friend for 37 or 38 years. When he started training, he was in the barn beside us."

Blue Prize was a group 1 winner in Argentina, and she has certainly performed well in the U.S. In three seasons of competition, she has won the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) twice and five other stakes. She has earned $1,592,253 and finished fourth in last year's Distaff, beaten just a 1 1/2 lengths by Monomoy Girl, with Wow Cat second and Midnight Bisou third.

Monomoy Girl, champion 3-year-old filly of 2018, will miss this year's Breeders' Cup because of colic earlier in the year and a more recent muscle strain. Midnight Bisou, 7-for-7 this year, is the morning-line favorite for the Distaff, and Wow Cat is also entered. 

"We went after Monomoy Girl, and we hit the wall," said Correas of last year's Distaff. "I think Blue Prize ran an awesome race, and when she figured it out—that the other ones were coming—she re-broke but was late."

The trainer said Blue Prize likes a fight and is very competitive. He feels she is as good or better than she was last year with first-, second-, or third-place finishes in all five of her 2019 starts. She is coming off back-to-back victories in the Aug. 18 Summer Colony Stakes, a listed stakes at Saratoga Race Course, and the Oct. 6 Spinster at Keeneland.

"A lot of this is thanks to Merriebelle, that they let me run in that listed race," Correas said. "She didn't break really well. She was, I think, seven lengths off the pace at one point, but she did it. That's what she needed."

Jose Ortiz rode Blue Prize in the Summer Colony, but switched to Elate in the Spinster, and Joe Bravo picked up the ride aboard Blue Prize.

"She was relaxed in the back, and Joe did a great job," Correas said.

Fifth and last early in the 1 1/8-mile Spinster, Blue Prize came on to defeat odds-on favorite Elate by a half-length, with Dunbar Road third. Dunbar Road has also been entered in the 1 1/8-mile Breeders' Cup Distaff, while Elate will take on males in the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) instead.

Blue Prize could become the third Argentine-bred horse to win the Distaff, joining Bayakoa, who won in 1989 and 1990; and Paseana, who scored in 1992. After the Breeders' Cup, she will be offered Nov. 5 at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's breeding stock sale in Kentucky.

Correas stables at Keeneland year-round, so he'll be able to witness Blue Prize's sale across town. Meanwhile, he is enjoying running into old friends at Santa Anita.

"It's nice to be back," he said.