With victories in the about 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano Invitational H.
(G2) on grass and 13-furlong Gallant Man S. already this year, it is safe to say
BIG BOOSTER (Accelerator) needs neither the help getting into the inaugural
Breeders’ Cup Marathon on October 25, nor a defense of his qualifications to be
there. Nonetheless, the formality of garnering an automatic bid will be there
should he top six rivals in Wednesday’s $150,000
Cougar II
H. at Del Mar, which will be contested over 1 1/2 miles on Polytrack.
The Cougar II is the second of three races that carries with it a berth into
the Breeders’ Cup Marathon. Evening Attire (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) earned the
first by winning the Greenwood Cup at Philadelphia Park on July 19. The final
berth will be awarded to the winner of the Turfway Park Fall Championship on
September 6.
Following his win in the Gallant Man on June 1, Big Booster was a commendable
fifth of nine, beaten five lengths, in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), a race he
finished third in the year before. He also finished a close third in last fall’s
Goodwood S. (G1), but has generally been outclassed in subsequent races under 1
1/2 miles. Rafael Bejarano, aboard for his victories in the San Juan Capistrano
and Gallant Man, will be back aboard Big Booster after committing to ride Gold
Cup favorite Heatseeker (Ire), who was withdrawn due to injury and eventually
retired.
Big Booster’s primary opposition includes ZAPPA (Afternoon Deelites), winner
of the San Pasqual H. (G2) in January, and TISSY FIT (Lasting Approval), winner
of the Tanforan S. last year and third in the Ferdinand H. and Gallant Man in
his last two starts. MARSH SIDE (Gone West), who captured the 1 3/4-mile
Valedictory S. in his last start over Polytrack at Woodbine in December 2006,
will try and rebound from weak showings in his two starts since moving to
trainer Neil Drysdale’s barn.
The Cougar II honors the Chilean import who was named champion grass horse of
1972 and whose first two stakes wins in the United States occurred at Del Mar in
1970.