Paul Pompa, Jr.'s GI Cigar Mile H. hero Connect (Curlin) was doing well the day after his Saturday score, reported conditioner Chad Brown. The sophomore, who also annexed the GII Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 24, will spend a few days at Brown's Belmont Park base before heading south to Florida for the winter. The $12-million GI Pegasus World Cup is on the horizon at Gulfstream Jan. 28, and Connect will be considered for the inaugural running of that unique event. “I'm going to let him hang out here for a little bit and recover from that race, then take him down to Palm Meadows,” Brown offered. “Obviously, we're going to take a look at this Pegasus Cup, but there's no firm plans to participate at this point. I'll get him to Florida, see how he's training, and speak to Paul Pompa about it as the month of December goes on.”
Divining Rod (Tapit), a narrow second in the Cigar Mile after a hard-fought duel, will be joined by fellow Lael Stables colorbearer and GII Remsen S. runner-up No Dozing (Union Rags) in Florida for the winter.
“Unfortunately, the winter program is a little tougher on Divining Rod on opportunities of where he may run next that we'll look into,” said conditioner Arnaud Delacour. “But possible targets for No Dozing include the [GIII] Sam F. Davis and the [GII] Tampa Bay Derby.”
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