Theory's Connections Mull BC Among Options

China Horse Club and WinStar Farm's Theory emerged from the Oct. 15 Futurity (gr. III) at Belmont Park in fine fettle, according to trainer Todd Pletcher the day after the colt's 3 1/2-length triumph.

"He's excellent," said Pletcher. "He looked good this morning."

Pletcher added that the connections are still sizing up their options for the 2-year-old Gemologist   colt, citing the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sentient Jet Juvenile (gr. I) Nov. 5 at Santa Anita Park, the $300,000 Remsen (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack, or the Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, both Nov. 26, as potential targets.

BALAN: Theory Impressive Again in Futurity

"I spoke to Elliot (Walden, of WinStar) a little bit yesterday, and figured we'd give it some time and get the horse back on the track before we firm anything up," Pletcher said. "If he ran back on short rest, I think it would be the Breeders' Cup. Otherwise, (he would run) in the Remsen or the Jockey Club."

Should Theory make the jump to the Breeder's Cup, he would join stablemate Syndergaard, second in the grade I Champagne Oct. 8, in the Juvenile.

Additionally, Pletcher reported that the rest of his band of Breeders' Cup contenders came out of their respective Saturday morning breezes in good order. 

Al Shaqab Racing Racing and Gerard Augustin Normand's Ectot, who punched his ticket to the $4 million Breeders' Cup Longines Turf (gr. IT) with a five-length win over the formidable Flintshire in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. IT), turned in his first breeze since his Oct. 1 victory, working a half-mile on the inner turf in :49.09 Saturday morning.

"He's a good work horse," Pletcher said. "He seemed happy to be back to work. I thought he breezed well. He looked good and came out of it in good shape this morning."

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Curalina, who has been training up to the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) since her runner-up finish to the recently retired Cavorting in the grade I Personal Ensign Aug. 27, breezed five furlongs on the main track in 1:01.23. Third in last year's Distaff, Curalina could make a return appearance in this year's $2 million race, although Pletcher said that her connections are keeping a close eye on the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) as well.

In the last two weeks, Forever Unbridled and I'm a Chatterbox, third and fourth in the Personal Ensign, have each came back to post impressive victories in the Beldame and Spinster (both gr. I), respectively, and are both expected to target the Distaff.

"It's no secret that the Personal Ensign was tough race and everyone's come out of it and run well," Pletcher said. "One of the reasons we haven't chosen which race is that complexion of both races changed significantly this last week, with Cathryn Sophia deciding not to go to the Sprint and Cavorting not going to the Distaff, so that's why we'll keep both races in play. I don't think it's really going to affect how we train her much until maybe her final breeze before."

Pletcher could have a pair of runners in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) Nov. 4, with With Anticipation (gr. IIT) winner Made You Look and Pilgrim (gr. IIIT) runner-up J. S. Choice both under strong consideration. J. S. Choice kept to his typical dirt training regimen Saturday in his first work since the Pilgrim, breezing a half-mile on the main track in :49.07, while Made You Look covered five-eighths on the inner turf in 1:02.14.

Teresa Viola Racing Stable's Photo Call is back in New York, training at Pletcher's Belmont base following her front-running, 2 3/4-length victory over Tepin in the First Lady (gr. IT) Oct. 8 at Keeneland. Ridden by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux in the First Lady, the 5-year-old Irish-bred will be pre-entered in both the Breeders' Cup $2 million Mile (gr. IT) and Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), said Pletcher, who added that Desormeaux, her fifth jockey in as many starts, could have the return call for her Breeders' Cup assignment.

"She's a tricky horse to ride," Pletcher said. "Kent seemed to get along with her well so we're hoping to keep him on her."