Emerald Downs: Assessment will run in Breeders’ Cup

August 24, 2009 2:38 pm
Jockey Gallyn Mitchell comes to victory circle after guiding Assessment to victory in the 74th running of the Longacres Mile last Sunday. The venerable Mitchell drove the Howard Belvoir-trained
Jockey Gallyn Mitchell comes to victory circle after guiding Assessment to victory in the 74th running of the Longacres Mile last Sunday. The venerable Mitchell drove the Howard Belvoir-trained

Longacres Mile champion Assessment is headed to California for the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Dirt on Nov. 7 at Santa Anita Park.

Owner Lou Tice and trainer Howard Belvoir made the announcement Saturday at Emerald Downs, six days after Assessment’s stirring three-quarter-length victory in the 74th Mile.

“He came out of the race great, better than he has all year,” Belvoir said.

Said Tice: “We’re going!”

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred, Assessment is in the midst of one of the most remarkable seasons in track history. The son of Jump Start has four wins and three seconds in seven starts—including three stakes victories—and a whopping $257,000 in earnings. The victory in the Grade III Mile automatically qualified Assessment for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Tice said that regular rider Gallyn Mitchell would retain the mount in the Breeders’ Cup, and also hoped that Jennifer Whitaker would travel and gallop the horse in California.

Belvoir said the trip is subject to Assessment continuing his energetic morning work, and added the horse could have another race prior to the Breeders’ Cup. That outing would likely be in the $350,000 Goodwood Stakes, a Grade I at 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 10 at Santa Anita. Both the Goodwood and Breeders’ Cup’ will be run on the Pro-Ride synthetic surface. Assessment was winless in three starts last fall on Golden Gate’s synthetic Tapeta surface.

In 2008, Longacres Mile winner Wasserman also was eligible for the Breeders’ Cup but Belvoir elected to keep his gelding home, partly because it would have cost $90,000 to supplement Wasserman to the BC. Assessment is BC eligible, but Belvoir and Tice estimate it will cost about $20,000 in entry and shipping fees to get the horse in the gate.

Mitchell, 47, would be riding in his first Breeders’ Cup. Emerald Downs’ all-time leader with 1,150 wins and second this season with 91 wins, Mitchell rode a brilliant race in The Mile as Assessment overcame the outside No. 12 post-position for the victory.

Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, also at Santa Anita, had a full field of 12 and was won by Albertus Maximus in 1:33 2/5. Assessment’s winning time in the Lonagcres Mile also was 1:33 2/5.