DEL MAR, Calif. – Formidable Man, winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, and two other turf stakes this year, is unlikely to race again until the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
“We’ll take it day by day,” trainer Michael McCarthy said on Sunday. “Maybe we won’t run until the Breeders’ Cup Mile. We’ll keep our options open. I think he’ll be very effective off a nine-week gap.”
If Formidable Man starts in the BC Mile, he will risk an unbeaten six-race record on the Del Mar turf since he won his debut in a maiden race here in September 2023.
In the $300,500 Del Mar Mile, Formidable Man closed from fifth of six to win by 1 1/2 lengths as the 7-5 favorite.
“He ran to expectations,” McCarthy said. “He seems to be thriving.”
Owned by William and Suzanne Warren, Formidable Man has won 8 of 15 starts and earned $1,165,425. Earlier this year, Formidable Man won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita in March, finished fourth behind King of Gosford in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita in May, and rebounded to win the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar in July.
In the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Formidable Man will face a field of international and nationally prominent runners. McCarthy said Formidable Man fits.
“Judging from what I’m seeing, he looks good,” he said.
The Del Mar Mile field did not include Johannes, a seven-time stakes winner who was ninth of 10 after a troubled trip in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes at a mile on turf at Saratoga on Aug. 21 in his first start of the year. Johannes is expected to run in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile, a $200,000 turf race at Santa Anita on Sept. 27.
Johannes won the 2024 City of Hope and was a close second in the BC Mile at Del Mar last November.
“We’re looking forward to the City of Hope,” trainer Tim Yakteen said on Sunday. “It worked well last year.”
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.