Poly Lover Big Cazanova Swipes Native Diver
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Favored Big Cazanova won for the third time in as many tries over the Del Mar Polytrack with a front-running 3 1/4-length score in the $200,000 Native Diver Stakes (gr. III) Nov. 29 .
With Elvis Trujillo aboard, Big Cazanova outfought defending Native Diver winner Blueskiesnrainbows for the early lead and was never headed while completing the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:49.28. Previously contested at Hollywood Park, the Native Diver was run at Del Mar for the first time Saturday.
Peter Miller trains Big Cazanova, the 2-1 choice in a field of seven, for Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, Brous Stable, and Dona Licha. Haras de la Pomme bred the 5-year-old ridgling by Giant's Causeway out of the Morning Bob mare Gem Bob in Argentina.
Big Cazanova confirmed his fondness for Del Mar's synthetic oval. Big Cazanova holds the track record of 1:48.85 for the 1 1/8-mile distance, which he set in an allowance/optional claiming race Aug. 28. Three of the chestnut's four career wins have come at the seaside track.
"This horse is really fast and he just kind of runs them off their feet," Miller said. "That's the way he runs. Elvis did a great job slowing them down that second quarter and then kicking around the 2 1/2 (furlongs) before they got to him."
Getting the early lead Saturday over outsider Fleet Eagle and Blueskiesnrainbows from his rail post, Big Cazanova carved quarter-mile fractions of :23.05, :47.26, and 1:11.73 over a strung-out field going up the backstretch.
Blue Tone, with Kent Desormeaux aboard, launched a challenge early on the far turn on the far outside to advance to second, a length behind the pacesetter. But Big Cazanova, responding to rousing by Trujillo in upper stretch, re-established command by 2 1/2 lengths at the furlong pole and was never threatened while winning comfortably.
"He broke slow on me and I had to send him. But he's such a good horse, I had confidence all the way," Trujillo said. "I work this horse and I've ridden him and I know what a good horse he is. I had confidence all the way today. This horse is just a winner."
Blue Tone was second by 4 1/4 lengths over Avanzare, who finished a head in front of Fleet Eagle. Chilean-bred Salto Del Indio, the 124-pound highweight, was followed by the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained duo of Blueskiesnrainbows and Tamarando to complete the order
Carrying 118 pounds, Big Cazanova paid $6.20, $3.60, and $2.60, topping a $19.20 exacta with 5-2 co-second choice Blue Tone, who returned $3.80 and $2.60. Avanzare, who was scratched out of the Seabiscuit Handicap (gr. IIT) on turf a day earlier, paid $3.40 to show.
Since transferring to Miller's barn from Argentina early this year, Big Cazanova has recorded four wins, a second and two third-place finishes in nine races. His two most recent efforts produced a seventh in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) at Belmont Park Sept. 27 and a fifth in the 1 3/4-mile Las Vegas Marathon on the Breeders' Cup undercard Oct. 31 at Santa Anita Park.
Big Cazanova improved his career mark to 4-6-6 in 20 races with earnings of $393,692