Boutin Wants Arazi to Run in the Mile, Not in the Classic

Allen Paulson, the co-owner of Arazi, got a fax from France on Monday from trainer Francois Boutin, indicating that Boutin wants the 3-year-old colt to run in the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Mile on grass Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Arazi, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile a year ago but a disappointment this year, is eligible for the Mile as well as the $3-million Breeders’ Cup Classic, a 1 1/4-mile dirt race.

Paulson, who has a 50-50 partnership in Arazi with Sheik Mohammed al Maktoum, said last week that he preferred that the horse run in the Classic. Arazi has never won at the Classic distance. He finished eighth as the 9-10 favorite in this year’s Kentucky Derby. Reports from Europe indicate that the sheik would like Arazi to run in the Mile.

In part, Boutin’s fax to Paulson said: “The Mile would be the most reasonable race. The horse is coming to his top (peak), and I don’t want to take the risk of running him in the Classic.”

The decision must be made by Wednesday morning.

“I don’t know,” Paulson said from his Malibu home. “If the horse is peaking, to me that would be a reason for running him in the Classic. Maybe Francois is breaking it to me easily. I thought we were going to wait until after Arazi’s workout Wednesday before deciding. I would still love to see Arazi run in the Classic, if Francois thought he could win the race. But he’s the trainer.”