The name of the race is different. So is the racetrack.
Yet in one regard, the way Life Is Good is prepping for his upcoming engagement at the Breeders' Cup is quite similar to his path to the World Championships in 2021.
A year ago, it was a paid workout against three overmatched rivals, only two of whom finished the race, in the mile Kelso Handicap (G2) that propelled the son of Into Mischief toward the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). A winner by an easy 5 1/2 lengths as a 1-20 favorite on that September afternoon at Belmont Park, he went on to take the Dirt Mile by a slightly bigger margin of 5 3/4 lengths.
On Oct. 1, some of those elements will once again come into play when CHC and WinStar Farm's multiple grade 1 winner will be a huge favorite over four pedestrian rivals in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont at Aqueduct.
The stakes will be higher Saturday for Life Is Good both literally and figurately. The Woodward is a richer grade 1 stakes as opposed to the grade 2 Kelso and the ultimate goal for the $4-million earner at the Breeders' Cup is the centerpiece $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) where a highly anticipated showdown with the undefeated Flightline awaits.
will need to step up if he is to take on flightline.
On that performance, I cannot see it beating Flightline. If these two cut each other throats then at a suicidal pace then an upset can be on the cards.
Rich Strike, the Derby winner ran short head second over the weekend after hitting the front but Dubai World Cup second Hot Rod Charlie rerallied to get up.
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