Mile Division

ZACINTO-GB
Owner: Juddmonte Farm, Inc.
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Pedigree: B.c.,3, by Dansili – Ithaca, by Distant View

Positives: It’s tough to gauge how good Zacinto really is — he’s only had five career starts and he ran Rip Van Winkle to just over a length when second at 18-1 in the 8f Queen Elizabeth II S.-G1 in early September — so if his improvement continues he could be good enough to act with anybody, anywhere, in due time. Perhaps that time will come on the first Saturday in November at Santa Anita. Originally ticketed for the 10f Champions S.-G1 at Newmarket three weeks earlier, Zacinto had his game plan altered when his connections opted for the BC Mile in a rather impressive display of confidence. And after the colt earned a Racing Post Rating of 125 in the QE2, they must believe he’s ready for the next level right now. Zacinto employs a second flight tracking style and likely will appreciate the faster pace he’ll encounter at Santa Anita. He appears to thrive on top-of-the-ground. And it isn’t going to rain in Southern California any time soon.

Concerns: He’s only had five starts and he’s never been in a race with more than 10 horses (only once), so Zacinto better not be claustrophobic. He doesn’t appear to own a Goldikova-type turn of foot (well, who does?) and eventually he might be better suited for races with more distance. There’s no doubting his class or ability but he’s likely going to be faced with the kind of traffic and congestion that he’s never had to encounter.

Bottom Line: Zacinto has come so fast so quickly that so few take him seriously (he didn’t run in the Guineas or Derby, hence the thin scrapbook). And, yes, he’s still eligible to two-other-than. But Zacinto has the pedigree, the connections, and the RPR’s to deserve a look, even though he’s lacking in experience. Rip Van Winkle may go favored in the BC Classic. That’s a good enough endorsement for this colt’s chances in the BC Mile.