The game plan for Freespool isn't any secret as the unabashed front-runner heads into Saturday's grade I $200,000 Ancient Title Handicap at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
"He's coming in perfect, hopefully he can get an early lead and they'll have to come catch him," said Ted West, father of trainer Ted H. West.
Freespool, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by Geiger Counter, has won three of five 2001 starts for Desperado Stables. Freespool came off a three-month vacation to win the restricted Pirate's Bounty by three lengths at Del Mar Sept. 1, and has recorded a pair of bullet works coming into the Ancient Title.
West was pleased with the 117-pound weight assignment as Freespool will pack 10 pounds less than highweight Kona Gold.
"I think the weights are square and that was the number we were looking for," West said. "10 pounds should get us close to Kona Gold."
Probable to the Ancient Title at six furlongs for older horses, with jockeys and weights: Kona Gold (Alex Solis, 127); Lexicon (Kent Desormeaux, 117); Freespool (Isaias Enriquez, 117); Swept Overboard (no rider, 116), and Forest Camp (Mike Smith, 115).
In other Ancient Title developments: - Forest Camp breezed three panels in a bullet :33.60 for Eduardo Inda.
- Lexicon breezed three furlongs in :36.80 for Richard Mandella.
- Kona Gold will pack a record 127 pounds in this year's Ancient Title The previous record was 124 pounds, carried by a victorious Kona Gold in 2000 and by Debonaire Junior in a runner-up finish in the inaugural edition in 1985.
