Now that Came Home is happy coming from off the pace, as he did in the Pacific Classic, is there a concern of the Derby repeating itself? "War Emblem won't get an easy lead this time," Toffan said. "If we have to we'll go with him. He has as much speed as anyone."Came Home and fellow 3-year-olds War Emblem and Medaglia d'Oro will all attempt to win the Classic off a nine-week layoff, something that's never been accomplished before. The son of Gone West came off a similar layoff in his first start this year, winning the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes by four lengths in 1:21 4/5.
Came Home, who shares the No. 1 spot on the World Thoroughbred rankings with three other horses, will train up to the Breeders' Cup Classic, and is scheduled to ship to Arlington Park on Wednesday, Oct. 23, three days before the race, co-owner John Toffan said Thursday."We thought briefly about running in the Goodwood (Breeders' Cup), but he runs well fresh, and we decided the best way to go was to train him up to the race," said Toffan, who owns Came Home in partnership with Trudy McCaffery, William S. Farish, and John B. Goodman. "He's been training very well and we'll be in good shape. Paco (trainer Paco Gonzalez) will work him six or seven furlongs on Saturday. On Breeders' Cup week, he'll work Monday or Tuesday, then ship to Arlington on Wednesday. I don't feel he needs a work over the track. He's either going to like it or he isn't."Toffan said he's not concerned over the fact that Came Home's only two career defeats have come outside California. "I can't blame the surface for those defeats," he said. "The (Kentucky) Derby was our fault. We never should have taken him back. It's best if you let him do what he wants to do."