Breeders' Cup Classic or Dirt Mile Next for Jesus' Team

Grupo Seven C Stable's Jesus' Team, who finished third in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, has taken up temporary residence at trainer Kenny McPeek's Magdalena Farm in Lexington before moving to Keeneland Oct. 9 to begin preparation for a start in the Breeders' Cup.

"He will run in the Breeders' Cup, 100%," trainer Jose D'Angelo said. "We just don't know what race—maybe the (Dirt) Mile (G1) or maybe the Classic (G1). I will wait for the decision from the owners."

The $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile will both take place Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

McPeek, who saddled Swiss Skydiver for a thrilling victory over Bob Baffert-trained Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Authentic in the Preakness, welcomed Jesus' Team to his farm after being contacted by D'Angelo.

"Always after his races, for 'Jesus,' I give him four or five days in a roll pen or a little paddock. At Keeneland, they don't have that. So I called Kenny McPeek and he said, 'Hey, come on, bring your horse,'" said D'Angelo, whose first Preakness starter was stabled next to Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness Stakes Barn at Pimlico. "He's relaxing and enjoying his days off at Magdalena Farm.

"On Friday, we'll move him to Keeneland again and start jogging and galloping him slow for a week. He'll have two or three works for the Breeders' Cup. The horse came back from the Preakness very good."

Prior to the Preakness, Jesus' Team finished third in the Sept. 5 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), second in the Aug. 15 TVG.com Pegasus Stakes, and fourth in the July 18 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), which was won by Authentic.

D'Angelo saddled his first horse in the United States at Gulfstream Park 16 months ago after winning the trainer's title in his native Venezuela, joining his father, Francisco, a multiple training titlist in the South American country before venturing to the U.S. in 2015.

"It was an amazing experience, spending one week with the stars of training, like Bob Baffert and Kenny McPeek," said D'Angelo, whose stable is based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Fla. "I'm very, very proud of my work and my team for the third in the Preakness. I had confidence in 'Jesus' before the race. I knew he was in good condition."

D'Angelo will split his time between Keeneland and Gulfstream Park West leading up to the Breeders' Cup.