Dullahan, a late-running son of Even the Score, has been pre-entered
for next Saturday’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 ¼ miles on
dirt and the $3 million Turf at 1 ½ miles.
Dale Romans, who trains the Pacific Classic winner, will count
heavily on the valued opinion of Tammy Fox, his assistant of 21 years,
before finalizing his decision. Dullahan is scheduled to work on Santa
Anita’s main track Saturday, after working a half-mile on turf last
Saturday. In fact, all five of Romans’ Breeders’ Cup prospects are
scheduled to work Saturday.
“Which race he runs in all depends on how he works on the dirt,”
Fox said of Dullahan. “I’ll give a lot of input (to Romans), because
I’ve worked Dullahan on all surfaces, so I know the horse. I’ll be the
determining factor.”
In 13 career races, Dullahan has three wins, all over synthetic
surfaces. He is winless in four turf starts and winless in six races on
conventional dirt.
Romans’ Breeders’ Cup horses have been at Santa Anita since Oct. 15 and have acclimated well.
“Shackleford (Dirt Mile) is doing really, really well out here,”
Fox said. “Little Mike (Turf) gallops every day and every day he’s
doing better and better. That’s all we can hope for. They’re going into
the races good.
“We got out here early because Dale just wanted them to get used
to the track and their new surroundings, and every day they’re doing
better and better.”
After Saturday’s drills, the horses will gallop into their prospective Breeders’ Cup races.