Clark, Pegasus Under Consideration for By My Standards

Though six of the 10 starters from the Nov. 7 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland have been retired to stud, including the race's first three finishers, at least one of the Classic's top older horses, eighth-place By My Standards , will continue to race.

Trainer Bret Calhoun said Nov. 12 that the 4-year-old son of Goldencents   could run in the Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) at Churchill Downs Nov. 27 or await the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23. A goal is to secure a grade 1 victory for the colt, who has four grade 2 wins.

By My Standards is stabled at Churchill Downs, where he captured the Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet (G2) in his start preceding the Classic for Chester Thomas' Allied Racing Stable. But the turnaround from the Classic is quick, just shy of three weeks, and Calhoun wants to monitor his training before determining whether to run.

"We probably won't decide until close to entry time," he said.

Bred in Kentucky by Don Ladd, By My Standards has earned more than $1.8 million. He took the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) last year at 3 and the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) and Oaklawn Handicap (G2) this year.

He was purchased for $150,000 by Josh Stevens Bloodstock, agent, from the consignment of Scanlon Training and Sales to the 2018 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. 

Calhoun was disappointed by the finish from his trainee in the Classic, speculating that the colt may not have fired with a midpack trip between horses on a track that seemed to favor speed horses. He lost by 14 lengths.

"The horses moved on the outside of him and held him into that pocket, and he had to tap on the brakes," Calhoun said. "And boy, when they pushed the button, they exploded and drew away from him."

Besides Classic victor Authentic  , other runners from the race announced as retired include runner-up Improbable  , third-place Global Campaign  , fifth-place Maximum Security  , ninth-place Tom's d'Etat  , and last-place Higher Power  .

Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Tiz the Law  , who ran sixth, is being aimed for the Pegasus.

Calhoun indicated his two other Breeders' Cup starters, Tom Durant's Silver Dust  and Allied Racing Stable and Spendthrift Farm's Mr. Money  —10th and 11th, respectively, in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1)—would also keep racing, though neither is expected to run soon. Silver Dust will be turned out to receive a freshening, and plans call for Mr. Money to be in only light training after exiting the Dirt Mile with cuts and a bruised heel, Calhoun said.