Trainer Richard Hannon is firming up plans to take his talented pair Strong Suit and Lilbourne Lad to Churchill Downs for the Breeders Cup meeting.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Strong Suit, who has won a trio of Group stakes this year, including Newmarket's G2 Khalifa Challenge on October 8, will go for the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile.
The 3YO son of Rahy has won five of his nine starts and gives Hannon the impression that he is made for American racing.
“Strong Suit has always been such a lovely horse to deal with, and he has so much speed, which you need for America,” Hannon said.
"He could win at five, six or seven furlongs, and we are confident that he'll get the mile there.
“The track out there will be right up his street.”
Lilbourne Lad is 3-for-8 in his juvenile campaign including a win in the Curragh's G2 Railway Stakes in June.
The son of Acclamation was second in Newmarket's G1 Middle Park Stakes last Saturday and could stave off retirement for a trip to Churchill.
"There is talk of Lilbourne Lad having one last tango in the States,” Hannon said.
“He could have a shot at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, or we might even have a look at the two-year-old race on the turf, but we'll sit down and make a decision in the next week or so."
