Zoldan’s Fairbanks set in Breeders’ Cup
The Youngstown businessman’s horse will run Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
Youngstown businessman Bruce J. Zoldan owns interest in a horse that will run in the top race at Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
Fairbanks, which is owned by a consortium that includes Zoldan, will run from post nine in the $5 million Classic.
Zoldan, President and CEO of the Youngstown-based B.J. Alan Company, is a General Partner with Team Valor International, the group that owns the Saratoga yearling auction topper.
In the past, Zoldan has had four different horses in other Breeders’ Cup races, but 2008 will be his first entry in the Classic.
“Being a horse owner and having one of your own in the Breeders Cup Classic is incredible,” Zoldan said. “This follows the excitement and thrill of having my first Kentucky Derby entrant this past year with Visionaire.
“The Breeders Cup Classic and the Kentucky Derby are the two most prestigious races an owner could possibly dream of having a horse run,” Zoldan said. “Obviously winning one of those would be the icing on the cake.”
Fairbanks is trained by Todd Pletcher.
There was a debate between Pletcher and Barry Irwin, president of Team Valor, whether the 5-year-old would race in the prestigious Classic race or the inaugural Marathon, where he was originally slated.
After fellow speed horses Well Armed and Mast Track defected to other Breeders’ Cup races, the decision was made to enter Fairbanks into the Classic, where he would be the lone speed horse.
Fairbanks’ 10-1 odds make him the number four favorite in the 12-horse field.
In six races this year, Fairbanks won twice and placed twice (6-2-2-0), with both wins coming in his last two races at Hawthorne Race Course in September and Saratoga Race Track in August.
Fairbanks’ primary success in his two years of racing has come on dirt, but this year’s race marks the first Breeders’ Cup Classic to be run on a synthetic surface: the much talked-about ProRide.
While many experts feel that ProRide is a question mark for defending Horse of the Year Curlin (a 7-5 favorite), the exercise rider for Fairbanks insists that the $1.85 million Saratoga sale topper absolutely loves the new surface at Santa Anita.
Zoldan is very excited to have Fairbanks facing off against the world-famous Curlin.
“Curlin is considered one of the best horses of this generation,” Zoldan said. “He obviously will be a strong favorite. It is not only an honor to have Fairbanks in this race, but also a privilege to challenge Curlin in his historic run for a second Classic win.”
XThe 14-race Breeders’ Cup begins today at 3:30 p.m. with the Filly & Mare Sprint and wraps up with the Classic, slated to start Saturday at 6:45 p.m. The Classic will be televised on ESPN.