Big Switch’s Golden State Juvenile Fillies

BIG EXACTA

GEORGE KRIKORIAN’S HOMEBRED MR. BIG FILLIES RUN 1-2 AT DEL MAR

BY TRACY GANTZ

George Krikorian has a big stallion in so many ways. Mr. Big is, in fact, physically a big horse, and since Krikorian moved him from Kentucky to California, the stallion has been putting up some big numbers on the sire lists. Mr. Big also had a big day at Del Mar Nov. 5, when his daughters Big Switch and Big Novel ran one-two in the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes.

“I think it’s great,” said Krikorian, who bred and races both fllies. “One had a little more experience than the other, but the way Big Switch won, she kind of showed that she had quite a bit of talent.”

Big Novel was the Krikorian flly with more experience. She had run three times, with a win, a second, and a third, the lastnamed in Del Mar’s Generous Portion Stakes. Big Switch had run only once, breaking her maiden by 11⁄2 lengths at Del Mar Aug. 20 despite a trip that included getting bumped and having to race wide.

Te seven-furlong Juvenile Fillies, part of the undercard of the frst day of the Breeders’ Cup, drew a feld of eight 2-year-old California-bred fllies. Bettors made Big Novel the 8-5 favorite, with Vivacious Vanessa, another impressive maiden winner, the narrow second choice over Big Switch.

John Sadler trains Big Switch and Big Novel for Krikorian. Jockey Joe Bravo had ridden both of those fllies as well as Vivacious Vanessa in their respective maiden victories, and he piloted Big Novel in the Juvenile Fillies. Sadler found a worthy substitute for Big Switch in New York superstar Irad Ortiz Jr., who went on to win three Breeders’ Cup races over the two days.

Big Novel joined Vronsky Feint and It’s Simple on the lead early, sneaking through on the rail to poke her head in front around the turn. It’s Simple stayed with Big Novel, and then Big Switch moved up outside of both of them to challenge.

It’s Simple backed up, leaving the two Mr. Big fllies to duke it out. Krikorian’s duo pulled away from the rest of the feld, and then in midstretch Big Switch started drawing of from her stablemate.

Ultimately, Big Switch defeated Big Novel by 23⁄4 lengths in 1:22.39. It was another 61⁄2 lengths back to third-place Vivacious Vanessa.

“She did all the work in the race,” said Ortiz. “I didn’t have to do much. She just ran and that’s all there was to it.”

Krikorian bred Big Switch from the unraced Malibu Moon mare Two Faced Moon and Big Novel from his unraced homebred Heatseeker mare Steamy Novel.

“Tese are young horses—they’re just getting going,” said Krikorian of the duo. “And the nice thing is they’re both improving.”

Big Switch leads home the exacta for her sire, Mr. Big, in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies

© BENOIT PHOTOS

California owner/breeder George Krikorian, holding trophy, heads up the winner’s circle festivities for Big Switch’s Golden State Juvenile Fillies victory