After 36-1 long shot
Poseidon’s Warrior won the
Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on August 5, surprising just about everyone but
trainer Robert “Butch” Reid, a decision had to be made about his
next start: Run next in the Grade 1 Forego at seven furlongs on September 1, or
await the Grade 1, six-furlong Vosburgh Invitational 55 days later?
With sights set firmly on the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Reid chose to
wait and run the 4-year-old son of Speightstown at his best distance, where he
has won six of 12 starts.
“I don’t think it’s a matter of him thriving on
shorter breaks – they all do better with more breaks,” Reid said.
“The Vanderbilt took a lot out of him. It was a tough race on him, and he
ran very hard. That was his first hard race in almost a year, so I gave him the
break, and I think he’s ready to run a big race.”
After Saratoga,
Reid took Poseidon’s Warrior back to his home base at Parx Racing, where
the colt has sizzled in his workouts.
For the Vosburgh, which drew a field of 10, Poseidon’s Warrior
will start from the inside post position.
“This horse has a tendency to bear out a little bit,” Reid
said. “Normally, I wouldn’t like the rail, but this horse has
decent speed, and this might help him getting around a little bit. I would have
preferred maybe the [No. 3 post], but it will be fine.
“I think he’s going to be a little bit of a price. He needs
to confirm that Vanderbilt win. It’s been like a year-long plan since
last November when we started thinking about him for the Breeders’ Cup.
One more step to go.”