Ramseys Hold Key to Pace in Turf

"I'm going to have a little assistance; I've got my rabbit in there," Ramsey said. "I don't think it is unsportsmanlike to use a pacemaker. Buckpasser had a pacemaker. Damascus had a pacemaker. Not as many people use 'em today, but if they do they don't call it a rabbit. I call a spade a spade."

 

Shining Copper was entered in the Arlington Million XXXIII (gr. IT) to provide an honest pace for stablemate Big Blue Kitten, just as he is doing in the Turf, and nearly ran away with the race. Big Blue Kitten ended up getting beaten a neck by The Pizza Man, while Shining Copper finished third a length back after leading through most of the 1 1/4-mile race.

 

 

"The trainers know he's a pacemaker, lets him go. The public knows he's a pacemaker, lets him go. The jockeys also know, but the horse doesn't know. And he's is one of the most important elements of the game," said Ramsey. "From a strategy standpoint, we have to figure out whether we let (Golden Horn) go or stay with him. The fact that (Shining Copper) is in there is going to change the flow the race. He can get another horse out of his rhythm."

 

Ramsey describes Shining Copper as "about as good a $62,000 claim as I have made in a while." Since claiming the 5-year-old son of Aragorn (IRE) in May from Clark Brewster, Shining Copper has earned $141,000 and become grade I-placed. He said the only claim he's done better with was $35,000 claim Furthest Land, who won the 2009 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I).

 

Golden Horn, a four-time group I winner who is coming into the Breeders' Cup off a victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Trimomphe (Fr-I), has won twice breaking from post 1 and has the speed to get into position quickly and establish the pace. What will be interesting is if he hooks up early with Shining Copper, who will break from post 2 and is expected to turn up the pressure. The favorite, a 3-year-old son of Cape Cross (IRE), could end up stalking Shining Copper but, again, risks chasing a hot pace designed in order to let Shining Copper run away uncontested.

 

Either way, Shining Copper's main role in this race is to set the stage for closer Big Blue Kitten. He could also set the table for other closers, such as The Pizza Man, Big John B, or Slumber.

 

"We have to leave it up to the jockeys at the break," said trainer Chad Brown, who has Shining Copper, Big Blue Kitten, and Slumber under his care. "The Arc winner is nearly undefeated; he'll be tough to beat. Shining Copper is in there to set a strong pace and hopefully my other two horses can close well into it."

 

Golden Horn's trainer John Gosden arrived in Lexington Wednesday evening and saw his horse on the Keeneland track for the first time Thursday morning, Oct. 29, since the horse shipped in. Gosden said he's only had the chance to walk the turf track but not to analyze the race.

 

"We always say, we'll see how we think it will unfolds and then we have a Plan A," Gosden said. "Immediately it doesn't unfold that way and you go to Plan B, which is a wide open canvas."

 

Golden Horn and jockey Frankie Dettori took one circuit around the Keeneland turf course Oct. 29 on a track that Gosden and rider and the rider described as "a little loose." With a couple days of sun and wind, the turf course is expected to be rated as good by Saturday if any more rain holds off.

 

"He is in great order," said Gosden. "He has raced hard all year, trained properly all year. He missed only one race because it rained an inch and half before the King George (King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Eng-I, at Ascot), so he had a mini-break. He enjoys his training."