Breeders’ Cup Friday Previews

BREEDERS’ CUP DISTAFF

This year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff has attracted one of the largest fields in recent years and with 2013 winner Beholder (Henny Hughes) opting for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, the tiara is up for grabs with several talented females set to line up in Lexington Oct. 30. Godolphin Racing’s Wedding Toast (Street Sense) comes into the championships off a trio of strong victories and is likely to be one of the betting public’s top choices. A decisive winner of Belmont’s GII Ruffian S. May 9, the “TDN Rising Star” ran away with that venue’s GI Ogden Phipps S. with a front running victory over champion Untapable (Tapit) June 6. Given the rest of the summer off, the Kiaran McLaughlin pupil returned to her home track to post another dominating success in the 1 1/8-mile GI Beldame Invitational S. Sept. 26. All of those victories came going one-turn at Belmont, so the question facing this 5-year-old miss is if she can repeat those efforts going two turns over the Keeneland oval. Wedding Toast does have a two-turn victory on her resume, however, in Aqueduct’s nine-furlong GIII Comely S., which she captured in 2013.

Harold Queen’s Sheer Drama (Burning Roma) has truly blossomed during this season for trainer David Fawkes. Bursting onto the scene with a 6 1/2-length victory in Gulfsteam’s GII Royal Delta S. Mar. 21, the 5-year-old half-sister to 2010 GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint hero Big Drama turned in a pair of runner-up efforts at Churchill in the GI La Troienne S. S. May 1 and GII Fleur de Lis H. June 13, the latter race at the hands of Frivolous (Empire Maker). The chestnut returned to her winning ways with strong victories in both the GI Delaware H. July 18–defeating Frivolous–and the GI Personal Ensign S. last time.

Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Philip Steinberg’s Got Lucky (A.P. Indy) is another one who has really come into her own this season. Todd Pletcher sent the 4-year-old to Monmouth Park this summer, where she finished a close second in the Monmouth Beach S. May 24 before scoring a dominating victory in the GIII Molly Pitcher S. July 3. Capturing the Lady’s Secret S. Aug. 2, the dark bay was a good second in the Personal Ensign before charging late to earn a career high in the Spinster last time, which was won by the similarly late-running Don’t Tell Sophia (Congaree) last year prior to a runner-up effort in the Distaff.

Fletcher and Carolyn Gray’s I’m a Chatterbox (Munnings) headlines a trio of Grade I-winning sophomores looking to get the better of their older rivals. The chestnut has never been off the board since transferring from Ken McPeek to conditioner Larry Jones, starting with a trio of victories in the Fair Grounds’s Silverbulletday S. Jan. 17, GIII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 21 and GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 28. She came running late after a wide trip to finish a valiant third behind stablemate Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection) in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 1. Given a brief freshening, the homebred crossed the wire a nose ahead of Curalina (Curlin) after setting the pace in Saratoga’s GI CCA Oaks July 26, but was disqualified and placed second for interference. I’m a Chatterbox was the only one attempting to run down loose on the lead Embellish the Lace (Super Saver) when second in that venue’s GI Alabama S. Aug. 22 and earned her much-deserved first Grade I victory last time in the Cotillion S. at Parx Sept. 19. The elegant chestnut has won setting the pace, stalking and coming from well out of it, and her versatility could prove key in this test.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Curalina is the second of three representatives from the Pletcher barn. A dominant allowance winner at Churchill May 1, she came running four-wide to get up just in time in Belmont’s GI Acorn S. June 6 and returned to get the CCA Oaks victory via DQ. Third in the Alabama, the chestnut finished second to Wedding Toast when facing older rivals for the first time in the Beldame.

Qatar Racing’s Peace and War (War Front) drew into the Distaff off the also-eligible list after a fever necessitated the scratch of defending champion Untapable Tuesday morning. The sophomore pulled off a 23-1 shocker in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. here last autumn and her late-running style suggests she will relish the chance to compete at nine furlongs, the longest distance test of her career.

Last, but certainly not least, is Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind (Curlin), who has only lost once since being privately purchased by these connections and transferred to trainer John Sadler. Making light work of the West Coast sophomore fillies with impressive victories in the GII Santa Ysabel S. Feb. 28 and the

GI Santa Anita Oaks Apr. 4, she sustained a wide, late rally to finish fourth as the favorite in the Oaks. Returning to her winning ways in Arcadia’s GII Summertime Oaks June 20, the blaze-faced chestnut ran away with the GIII Torrey Pines S. last time Aug. 30. There is no question Stellar Wind is a force to be reckoned with on the West Coast, but the challenge facing her is whether or not she can duplicate that form in Lexington after failing to do so on her last trip to Kentucky for a trainer with notoriously poor stats with his shippers.

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF

Hall of Famer Bill Mott’s juvenile turfers came out running at this year’s Saratoga meet, but Larkin Armstrong’s Harmonize (Scat Daddy) finished a nose short to Thrilled (Uncle Mo) after setting the pace at the Spa Aug. 29. Content to defer to a headstrong rival down the backside during the Sept. 3 P.G. Johnson S., Harmonize earned her diploma by four lengths while exacting revenge on the aforementioned Thrilled. Showing a completely different dimension–and an affinity for this course–the bay dropped far back early in the Oct. 7 GIII Jessamine S., but inhaled her competition while extremely wide on the home bend to best Sapphire Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) by a neck. According to Trakus data, she covered more ground than anyone else in the field, but still managed to get her final 5/16 of a mile in :29.78. Mott also saddles Gliding By (Artie Schiller), an impressive last-to-first debut winner at Woodbine Sept. 25 for Josie Carroll and Greenwood Lodge Farm. Adam Wachtel and Nils Brous subsequently bought into the dark bay.

Thrilled, meanwhile, went on to endure a tough beat of her own, losing by a nose to Tin Type Gal (Tapit)–who was announced as a scratch from the Breeders’ Cup Tuesday– in Belmont’s GIII Miss Grillo S. Sept. 27.

Catch a Glimpse (City Zip) figures to be among the early pacesetters, having taken Woodbine’s GII Natalma S. by five front-running lengths Sept. 12. Fading to fifth after her sprint debut at Saratoga was rained onto the slop July 30, she looked like a completely different horse when first testing the green in a seven-furlong Etobicoke allowance Aug. 22 that was carded as a prep for the Natalma.

European invaders have only annexed two of the seven previous runnings of this event, but they always merit a long look. The Coolmore contingent’s Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was third behind G1 English 1000 Guineas ante-post favorite Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the seven-furlong G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh Sept. 12, and a close fourth in the G1 Cheveley Park S. over six panels at Newmarket two weeks after that. She got a confidence-building four-length victory back out to seven in Newmarket’s Tattersalls Millions Trophy Oct. 3.

Illuminate (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) makes her first start beyond six panels, but likely has the best European form of all. She was three-for-three to kick off her career, with victories in Royal Ascot’s G3 Albany S. June 19 and Newmarket’s G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. July 10. The Richard Hannon trainee was last seen returning from a break to be second in the Cheveley Park after heading the front-running eventual winner in the late stages.

Nemoralia (More Than Ready), a Doncaster handicap winner Sept. 10, switches back to the grass after a runner-up effort in the sloppy GI Frizette S. at Belmont Oct. 3.

WILDCARD

Trainer Chad Brown won both the first and most recent runnings of this race, and has done extremely good work for co-owner and agent Pete Bradley, saddling the likes of 2014 GI F/M Turf heroine Dayatthespa (City Zip) and this year’s GI Beverly D. S. winner-via-DQ Watsdachances (Ire) (Diamond Green {Ire}) for one of the game’s keenest eyes. Brown sends out new acquisition Last Waltz (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) this time for Bradley and company.

Originally campaigned in her native country by Evelyn Stockwell and trained by David Wachman, the bay broke her maiden second out at Roscommon Aug. 17 before checking in fourth in the Flame of Tara S. at The Curragh just 13 days later. She was last seen finishing third, beaten less than a length after traveling close up early, in The Curragh’s G3 C. L. & M. F. Weld Park S. Sept. 27 (video). She has an awkward draw to overcome Friday.

BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE

The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile looks like it’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Liam’s Map (Unbridled’s Song)’s race to lose. He’s lightly raced with just three previous starts this season, kicking off the year with a one-mile optional claiming win at Belmont June 19. He registered a gutsy performance in the GI Whitney H. where he was pressed throughout the 1 1/8-mile distance and was just caught by Honor Code (A.P. Indy) on the wire Aug. 8. Liam’s Map solidified himself as one of the top horses in the nation after making quick work of the GI Woodward field, finishing 4 3/4 lengths the best Sept. 5. The speedy Pletcher trainee will be cutting back in distance, and is a perfect three for three at this trip. If he gets loose on the lead, Liam’s Map should be a tough one to catch.

Lea (First Samurai) was cross-entered for the Turf Mile, but following a strong main-track breeze Monday, ends up in this spot. Third in the 2000-meter G1 Dubai World Cup, Lea was second in the GI Stephen Foster H. June 13 and was bumped at the start of the Whitney and never factored, finishing better than 11 lengths behind Liam’s Map in sixth. He was most recently second to Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the GI Woodbine Mile when cutting back in distance and trying the turf for the first time in two years Sept. 13.

Crossed Sabres Farm’s Valid (Medaglia d’Oro) and Joseph Sutton’s Bradester (Lion Heart) spent much of the summer exchanges blows over the Oceanport oval. Bradester wired the GIII Salvator Mile July 5 and GII Monmouth Cup Aug. 2, while Valid was third and second, respectively. The Marcus Vitali trainee was able to turn the tables when besting Bradester by

3 1/2 lengths when stretching out to 1 1/8 miles in the GIII Philip H. Iselin S. Aug. 30 and annexed Gulfstream’s Groomstick S. over seven panels Sept. 26.

Red Vine (Candy Ride {Arg}) last found the winner’s circle in Monmouth’s Majestic Light S. May 23, but has registered solid performance in three starts since. The 5-year-old bay was second behind Bradester in the Salvator Mile and third behind Beholder (Henny Hughes) in the GI TVG Pacific Classic Aug. 22. Most recently, he completed the GII Kelso H. exacta Oct. 3.

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF

Conditioner Mark Casse had a red-hot Keeneland fall meet, and holds a strong hand for the Breeders’ Cup, which includes a pair of major contenders here. Airoforce (Colonel John), a $350,000 OBSAPR juvenile, donned cap and gown by daylight sprinting at Kentucky Downs Sept. 5 before adding the GIII Bourbon S. as the tepid 5-1 favorite over yielding local sod Oct. 4. Camelot Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) was runner-up, while fellow Casse trainee Siding Spring (Warrior’s Reward)–who is an AE in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile–complete the trifecta.

Casse’s second representative is Conquest Daddyo (Scat Daddy), who was second sprinting in Woodbine’s Vandal S. Aug. 15 before besting Sky Marshal (Sky Mesa) and Manhattan Dan (Big Brown) at 15-1 odds in that venue’s grassy GII Summer S. Sept. 12. Casse and Conquest Stables also had highly touted firster Conquest Enforcer (Into Mischief) in that day. A disappointing fourth, he returned to don cap and gown by nearly seven lengths in the Oct. 11 Cup and Saucer S.

While GIII Pilgrim S. winner Isotherm (Lonhro {Aus}) will return to dirt in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Saturday, the three colts who ran directly behind him in that Sept. 26 Belmont contest all show up here. GII With Anticipation S. winner Azar (Scat Daddy) was a neck behind in second, while Ray’s The Bar (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), making his first U.S. start; and Highland Sky (Sky Mesa) both ran into traffic trouble in the stretch and each could have finished even closer with better racing luck.

Europeans have won six of eight previous Juvenile Turfs, with Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore contingent accounting for back-to-back renewals in 2011 and 2012. Shogun (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Ire}) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) heads out for the same connections here, while the poorly drawn O’Brien-trained Hit It a Bomb (War Front) will carry the colors of breeder Mrs. Evelyn M. Stockwell.

Shogun, a full-brother to this year’s G1 Epsom Oaks winner Qualify (Ire), was most recently sixth–beaten 1 3/4 lengths–in Longchamp’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Oct. 4. Cymric (Kitten’s Joy) was a narrow second in that same heat. Hit It a Bomb, meanwhile, is a perfect two-for-two so far. Successful by a neck at The Curragh Sept. 27, the bay was impressive airing in the Oct. 9 Star Appeal S. over seven panels of Dundalk all-weather.

The aforementioned Cymric will be saddled by John Gosden, who took consecutive runnings of this race in 2008 and 2009. Donativum (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), the first of those two winners, was co-owned by Sheikh Mohammed along with his wife, Princess Haya of Jordan. Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin owns Cymric, as well as Richard Fahey pupil Birchwood (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The latter took home Newmarket’s G2 Superlative S. July 11, but was fifth as the favorite in Goodwood’s G2 Vintage S. 17 days later. He was most recently seen finishing third behind leading European juvenile Air Force Blue (War Front) in The Curragh’s G1 Vincent O’Brien National S. Sept. 13.