Irrefutable, who closed well at 6-1 to finish second behind victorious Amazombie in Santa Anita's Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 8, might have earned himself a shot in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5, trainer Bob Baffert said.
“I might try him in the Mile if he can get in there,” the Hall of Fame trainer said the following morning.
The 5-year-old gray horse, owned by Kaleem Shah, defeated his stablemate The Factor , the 4-5 favorite in the six-furlong Ancient Title.
“I like the way he ran yesterday," Baffert said. "He ran a good race.”
Irrefutable is a Kentucky-bred son of Unbridled's Song who has won four of 10 starts with three seconds. He has not won a stakes race, his best effort coming in a runner-up finish to Giant Ryan by neck in the Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II) at Calder Casino and Racecourse July 9.
Despite The Factor’s disappointing performance, finishing more than five lengths behind Amazombie after breaking from the rail post position, the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) is still on his agenda, Baffert confirmed.
“He came back out of it really good,” Baffert said. “Euroears will go (in the BC Sprint), too, but Coil is not going. I’m going to freshen him up. Drill is going to go (in the BC Juvenile) and Game on Dude (in the BC Classic).”
Irrefutable in the Ancient Title Stakes.
Benoit Photography