Hold That Tiger arrived at Arlington Park last fall with top credentials, coming off a brilliant victory in the group I Grand Criterium at Longchamp, in which he came from last to first with a breathtaking run. Pior to that race, he was one of the many victims of a cough that ravaged the Ballydoyle stable of trainer Aidan O'Brien.In the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he was left at the start, dropping back to last over a speed-favoring track. Despite racing wide the entire way, he picked off horses on the turn and sustained his run the rest of the way, getting up to finish third behind the Bob Baffert pair of Vindication and Kafwain.Coral currently is listing Hold That Tiger as the 10-1 second choice behind Vindication for the Kentucky Derby, while quoting him at 25-1 for the Epsom Derby, for which stablemate Brian Boru is 7-1 favorite. Hold That Tiger also is the 5-1 choice for the 2,000 Guineas.
In a surprising development, Michael Tabor, owner of Hold That Tiger, said the son of Storm Cat probably will be pointed for the English Derby instead of the Kentucky Derby.Following the colt's impressive third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, it was widely assumed he would return to America for the Run for the Roses. However, after assessing the situation, Tabor decided the wiser move would be to remain in Europe and aim for the English Derby on June 7."After the Breeders' Cup Juvenile we were very hopeful Hold that Tiger would be a Kentucky Derby horse but, having thought about it, I think probably his goal will be Epsom.We are leaning that way," Tabor told the Racing Channel in England. "Obviously you have to keep an open mind, but I would advise ante-post punters to hold fire on backing Hold That Tiger for Kentucky."
