Can Calculator Figure in BC Juvenile?

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Trainer Peter Miller is nothing if not defiant. While others might hedge about running a maiden in the Nov. 1 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I), Miller is all systems go with Calculator.

“I have a lot of confidence in the horse,” said Miller, a leading conditioner on the Southern California circuit. “I’m not ducking anybody.”

With FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) winner American Pharoah, Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) winner Carpe Diem, and Champagne Stakes (gr. I) winner Daredevil signed up, the Juvenile is no place for the faint of heart. But for those looking for a longshot, Calculator just might figure.

Miller purchased Calculator for owner Richard Pell for $132,000 at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sale Co.’s April auction. The In Summation   colt out of the Alphabet Soup mare Back to Basics was bred, raised, and consigned by Ocala Stud.

“He never missed a day of training in his life and has never had an aspirin,” said Ocala Stud’s Mike O’Farrell. “He worked really well at the sale. I’m extremely happy for Richard and Peter and proud of the horse. He’s run very well.”

Miller was game to double back for another son of In Summation   after having purchased Final Step the year before. That one has turned into a solid allowance-level runner for the same owner/ trainer combination, having earned $112,920 to date.

“I like buying off Ocala Stud,” Miller noted. “They do a hell of a job. Calculator was a good-looking colt who previewed sensationally and had a great gallop-out.”

Calculator debuted in mid-July at Del Mar and broke poorly from the gate going five furlongs. He rallied to miss by just one length, finishing third. In August going 6 1/2 furlongs, he again botched the break, rallying to finish fourth behind Om in a very fast heat that went in 1:15.75.

Undeterred, Miller led him over for the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) in early September, and Calculator ran second to American Pharoah by 4 3/4 lengths. He chased that one again in the Sept. 27 FrontRunner at Santa Anita Park, finishing second, 3 1/4  lengths back.

“He broke to the outside and was five-wide the whole way around in that last race,” said Miller. “He actually got a better Ragozin number than American Pharoah. Hopefully we can have him break better. He’s doing really well and worked in 1:10 4/5 the other day when we were looking for something like 1:12.

“We weren’t sure with his pedigree, but it looked like he got the distance. Seeing him go two turns was key. The Juvenile should be a good pace scenario with him, with plenty of speed to run at.”

If the big boys don’t fire Nov. 1, Calculator just might add up.