Da Big Hoss to Skip Sycamore for BC Turf

Skychai Racing will bypass the $100,000 Sycamore Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland Oct. 15 with their turf star Da Big Hoss to take a bigger swing at the Oct. 31 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).

"The Sycamore came up pretty tough for not a lot of money," said Harvey Diamond, founder and managing partner of Skychai Racing, which includes partners James Shircliff, David Koenig, and Daniel Johnson. "We feel he has earned his way in, and he is doing well. Why not take a shot?"

Da Big Hoss is a 4-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid  —Lady Struck Gold, by Touch Gold  , who was claimed for $50,000 June 21 by Skychai from owner/breeders Gary and Mary West. Since the claim he's won two stakes—the Johns Call at Saratoga Race Course and the Kentucky Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) at Kentucky Downs. Da Big Hoss is trained by Mike Maker.

The Kentucky Turf Cup earned Da Big Hoss four points under the Breeders' Cup selection system. All potential Breeders' Cup starters must have a minimum of six points (equal to winning a U.S or Canadian grade II race or finishing second in a grade I) to be automatically considered for entry just on points.

Seven horses have already qualified for a spot in the Turf by winning a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race, though all seven are unlikely to start. Juddmonte Farms, for example, has not decided whether it will send homebred Flintshire, the runaway winner of the Sword Dancer Stakes (gr. IT). The son of Dansili just finished second to Golden Horn in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I).

The other Turf Challenge winners include: Big Blue Kitten, Big John B, Golden Horn, Ordak Dan, Postponed, and The Pizza Man.

Points only come into play for selecting the Turf field if the race is oversubscribed. If more than 14 horses have entered, then all the horses pre-entered (apart from the Challenge winners entered) are ranked by points. The fates of horses that don't have the minimum of six points or that raced in group races overseas, which don't provide qualifying points, are then decided by a panel of racing directors and racing secretaries.

At this point, it seems Da Big Hoss has a good chance to get his shot on the big stage.