Line of Duty, who won the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Friday, early next week will jet back to England, then travel on to Dubai, where he’ll winter, probably not race, and prepare for the English classics of spring 2019.
Uncle Benny, who might have won the Juvenile Turf with better luck, is headed to Florida, plans uncertain, with a move from turf to dirt under consideration.
Both horses came out of the race in good condition, their trainers said Saturday morning. Line of Duty overcame a demanding trip and survived a stewards’ inquiry and jockey’s objection by Irad Ortiz, Uncle Benny’s jockey, to win the Juvenile Turf for Godolphin, trainer Charlie Appleby, and jockey William Buick.
Line of Duty got an 83 Beyer Speed Figure for running one mile on turf in 1:40.06, the slowest clocking in the 12-year Juvenile Turf history.
Line of Duty might make his next start in the English 2000 Guineas, run over a straight mile at Newmarket the first Saturday in May.
Uncle Benny, who had to be checked before the quarter-pole and bumped in deep stretch by the winner, ran impressively making his first two-turn start following a winning debut going five furlongs on dirt at Monmouth Park and a last-to-first victory in the $150,000 Futurity, a six-furlong grass race at Belmont. Trainer Jason Servis said he was leaving options open this winter for Uncle Benny, who will winter in Florida, but that a return to dirt would be considered.
More detail posted soon at www.drf.com