Breeders’ Cup Barn Tour with Larry Rivelli

Larry Rivelli is looking to cap off his 2023 season with Nobals in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) on Saturday.

After winning the TwinSpires Turf Sprint (G2) on Kentucky Derby Day, Nobals followed with a win in the William Garrett H. at Horseshoe Indianapolis, a second in the Troy (G3) at Saratoga, and a victory in the Da Hoss S. at Colonial Downs in September. He faces a field that includes 2022 winner Caravel and Nearctic (G2) winner Big Invasion. The Noble Mission gelding will break from post 7 with jockey Gerardo Corrales.

With the scratch of One Timer, now you just have Nobals, correct?

Correct.

Do you have any other starters in the undercard?

No.

With Nobals, have you had a chance to work him over the turf there or have you talked to anybody that's been over the turf at Santa Anita?

No, he's probably been over every turf course, I think, in the country, but I don't think he's been over that one. I'm not too worried about it. He's a pretty versatile horse. I'm pretty sure he'll take to it just fine.

Is he more of a firm turf or soft turf horse?

Yeah, I would say firm. He's more of a firm turf guy.

Is there anything else you want to talk about in terms of his chances? Are there any other horses that you guys are looking at?

I think that it sets up for the European horses because it's five furlongs, and there's not that much speed. My horse is fast, but I don't know if he's quite as fast as Caravel. But he also could be tactical. So I think we're going to be right on her hip or if we catch a flyer, try to cross her face and if we get in front of her.

We’ll win if he runs a similar race like he did at Churchill on Derby Day. He'll be super tough and he's doing really good, so I wouldn't expect him to do anything less than what he's done his last few.

Do you primarily train him at Churchill or did you train him up at Hawthorne?

Well, now Hawthorne is closed, so everything's in Kentucky. He trains currently at Turfway. Right.

He ran at Saratoga in the Troy (G3), where he finished second behind Cogburn and ahead of Caravel. Talk about that race.

Really that day, it was soft, and the jock that rode him said, "Larry, he was just bogging down at the end. He said if it was any kind of firmness in the turf at all, they wouldn't have caught him."

For this weekend, do you have any horses in particular besides your own that you're wanting to see?

Probably Cody's Wish. I think he's probably the best bet of the weekend. He's training good. The race doesn't look that tough. I think it's his race to lose.

Is there any one race that, if you were betting, you would bet money on?

That race, Cody's Wish (Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Saturday).

What do you think about the Classic? Do you have a Classic pick?

I don't. I'm just waiting for more of them to drop off. Every day something's new.