Sharp Claim Da Big Hoss Targets Sycamore

Skychai Racing hopes to continue to reap dividends on its June 21 claim of Da Big Hoss, one of 11 entered in the $100,000 Sycamore Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland Oct. 15.

The Sycamore, at 1 1/2 miles on grass, should play to the strengths of Da Big Hoss, a 4-year-old Lemon Drop Kid colt who has won two stakes since the claim for $50,000 at Churchill Downs. He first won the restricted John's Call Stakes at 1 5/8 miles on turf at Saratoga Race Course, and then hit the jackpot with a sharp victory in the $600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) at 1 1/2 miles at Kentucky Downs in his last start Sept. 14.

Trained by Mike Maker, Da Big Hoss actually is three-for-three since the claim. In his first start for his new owners he finished second in a Saratoga allowance race but was placed first on a disqualification. Joe Rocco Jr., who rode Da Big Hoss at Kentucky Downs, has a return call at 123 pounds from post 1.

Trainer Graham Motion entered a pair in the Sycamore: West Point Thoroughbreds and Rob Masiello's Divine Oath (Drayden Van Dyke at 121 pounds from post 6), and Augustin Stable's Holiday Star (Edgar Prado at 121 pounds from post 8). Both have performed well going long on the grass.

Divine Oath, a 4-year-old Broken Vow   colt, was transferred to Motion from Todd Pletcher after his ninth-place finish in the United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) in early July. He returned to finish second as the favorite in the 1 1/8-mile PATHA President's Cup on yielding turf at Parx Racing in his last start Sept. 12.

Divine Oath last December won the 1 1/2-mile W.L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park.

Holiday Star finished second to Da Big Hoss in the John's Call, but before that won the 1 1/2-mile Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park. The 5-year-old Harlan's Holiday gelding has something else going for him: He won the Sycamore on turf rated good last year at Keeneland.