By DRF.com
ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2022) — California-bred Slow Down Andy is bound for a Breeders’ Cup race at Keeneland on Nov. 5, with both the Dirt Mile and Classic under consideration, trainer Doug O’Neill said on Sunday.
“He’s got options,” O’Neill said.
Owned by breeders Paul and Zillah Reddam, the 3-year-old Slow Down Andy was third in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 1, racing near the front before fading to finish 2 1/4 lengths behind winner Defunded.
Earlier this year, Slow Down Andy won two stakes at 1 1/8 miles – the Grade 3 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park in New Mexico, and the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on turf on Sept. 3. Slow Down Andy was sidelined in the spring because of illness.
A California-bred by Nyquist, Slow Down Andy has won 4 of 9 starts and earned $819,100.
O’Neill may have as many as five starters in Breeders’ Cup races. Hot Rod Charlie is being pointed to the Classic, while Awake at Midnyte is a candidate for the Filly and Mare Turf, Sharp Aza Tack for the Juvenile Turf Sprint and Vegas Magic for the Juvenile Fillies.
Vegas Magic was beaten for the first time in her fourth start, finishing fourth by 12 lengths in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 10. Debutante winner And Tell Me Nolies returned to win Saturday’s Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, a prep for the Juvenile Fillies.
Vegas Magic, the winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar in August, was recently transferred to O’Neill’s stable at Keeneland, where she breezed a half-mile in 50 seconds on Oct. 1.