Seize the Grey (Arrogate), the winner the GI Preakness Stakes and GI Pennsylvania Derby, will point directly to the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Saturday Nov. 2 at Del Mar, the Daily Racing Form first reported on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
After taking home his second Grade I score, Seize the Grey's Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas left the door open to go to the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, but after conferring with ownership groups MyRacehorse and Gainesway Farm that the Dirt Mile would be a better option.
“I just think he might be more tactically suited there, we're a good fit there,” Lukas was quoted in the DRF article. “They were leaning toward the Mile and I couldn't argue with that.”
As previously reported by turf outlets, the Seize the Grey stallion deal between MyRacehorse and Gainesway has an additional monetary kicker should he win a Breeders' Cup race.
“You gotta win it to get it so I don't think that had much to do with [the decision],” Lukas told DRF. “We're more concerned about seeing if we can get the best performance out of him we can.”
Seize the Grey has breezed twice at Lukas's base in Louisville. The colt traveled five furlongs in 59 flat Oct. 3 and five furlongs in 59.40 seconds Oct. 13.
“He's had two dandy works, he's held his weight beautifully,” continued Lukas in the piece. “I even let him two-minute lick a mile because I thought he might be getting a little heavy on me.”
The decision to run Seize the Grey in the Dirt Mile sets up a meeting between the last two winners of the Preakness as National Treasure (Quality Road) is expected to draw in.
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