Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
The Big Torpedo likely won’t need an excuse
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Tom Morley blamed himself, in part, for The Big Torpedo getting run down late by the formidable Good Lord Lorrie when venturing outside New York-bred company for the first time in the Woodhaven Stakes. But there should be no excuses necessary Sunday at Aqueduct when The Big Torpedo returns against New York-sired company as the solid favorite in the $150,000 Spectacular Bid, a six-furlong turf race for 3-yearolds.
The Big Torpedo not only went up against open company in the Woodhaven, he also returned to the turf for the first time since launching his career with a second-place finish going six furlongs on the grass here last fall. In the Woodhaven, the steadily improving son of Big Brown rallied from mid-pack to assume command leaving the bend before succumbing grudgingly to Good Lord Lorrie in deep stretch and finishing second. Good Lord Lorrie flattered the performance by returning to finish fourth, beaten less than two lengths, five weeks later in the Grade 3 Penn Mile.
“I told my jockey [Eric Cancel] the way to beat [favored Carson’s Run] in the Woodhaven is to get first run on him. I just didn’t expect that to happen at the three-eighths pole,” Morley said. “Eric rode to instructions and the instructions probably cost him the race.”
As expected, Morley was quite pleased with The Big Torpedo’s effort in the onemile Woodhaven, for which he received a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure. His main worry on Sunday is the turnback in distance from a mile to six panels.
“He’s a colt with a lot of ability. My biggest concern is cutting back to six furlongs,” said Morley. “But he ran very well going six in his debut with no racing experience, finishing second, beaten a head, so hopefully he’s just classy enough that he can get the job done.”
The Big Torpedo figures to benefit from what projects to be an honest pace scenario in the Spectacular Bid as the competition includes speedsters like Heavyweight Champs, Bustin Away, and Grand Opening, all of whom will be making their grass debuts. Grand Opening will be wheeling back on just one week of rest after finishing second to the heavily favored Doc Sullivan going seven furlongs over a sloppy main track last Sunday at Saratoga in the Mike Lee Stakes.
Like The Big Torpedo, Fidelightcayut will also be going from open to restricted company and shortening from a mile to six furlongs after finishing a game and very close third 15 days earlier in the Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park. He contested the pace every step of the way before giving way stubbornly to the top two finishers in the final yards.
Like Morley, trainer Juan Avila, has concerns about the shorter distance.
“Six furlongs is a bit of a question mark for me,” Avila admitted. “But my horse runs very fast for the first six furlongs in his longer races, continues to do excellent, and I believe he will be able to sit off the pace if need be and give another good performance.”
Dettori to ride at Saratoga
Jockey Frankie Dettori, who called off his retirement late last year, will be based in Saratoga this summer when the meet opens on July 11.
Agent Ron Anderson will book mounts for Dettori as well as Joel Rosario at Saratoga. John Velazquez, who Anderson had worked for since 2020, has retained Kiaran McLaughlin as his agent. McLaughlin also represents Luis Saez, the Belmont Stakes-winning rider who will be based in Saratoga as well. By rule, agents are limited to representing two journeyman riders at one time.
Dettori, 53, rode 10 mounts at last week’s Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in Saratoga, winning an allowance race aboard Army Officer. He also finished second aboard Nations Pride in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes. Prior to that, Dettori last rode at Saratoga for a three-day period in 2014, winning two races on the July 18 card.
Dettori was planning to retire at the end of 2023, but had such a good year that he wanted to try riding in the U.S. this year. Based at Santa Anita for the winter, Dettori rode 35 winners from 162 mounts and finished fourth in wins and purse money won with $2.576 million at the Arcadia, Calif., track.
During the spring, Dettori rode winners at Keeneland, Pimlico, Penn National, and Monmouth Park.
Following the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, Dettori returned home to England to attend the wedding of his daughter Ella. He is scheduled to do some television work during next week’s Royal Ascot meet and then return stateside, where he has riding engagements in New York and Kentucky before the Saratoga meet begins.
Velazquez, 52, is the all-time winningest rider at Saratoga. In North America, the Hall of Famer Velazquez ranks first all-time in purse money won ($480.4 million) and 11th alltime in wins 6,605.