Foreigner’s Form Imposing in ‘Dancer’

Juddmonte Farm’s $5.3-million earner Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) looms an imposing presence as he makes his second trip to the States for Saturday’s $1-million GI Sword Dancer S., a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf. Second behind Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) in last year’s GI Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Andre Fabre trainee was a half-length second to eventual champion Main Sequence (Aldebaran) in the 2014 running of the BC Turf. He added more frequent flyer miles with a successful trip to Sha Tin for the G1 Hong Kong Vase in September, and was second to Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) in both Chantilly’s Prix Darshaan Mar. 3 and Meydan’s G1 Dubai Sheema Classic 25 days later. After a freshening, he resurfaced to once again check in second in Epsom’s G1 Coronation Cup June 6, and found only Treve too much to handle in Saint-Cloud’s G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud June 28. “With the very soft ground, we didn’t run [in the July 25 G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.],” said Annelie Ackermann, Flintshire’s regular exercise rider. “So last minute, the boss decided to come here. I didn’t know [until] 10 days before we left that I was coming here.”

Perhaps the field’s most intriguing runner is Messi (Ger) (New Approach {Ire}), who seeks his third win in the U.S. from as many starts. A handicapper in his native country for Paul Harley–who saddles Guardini (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire})–the 6-year-old overcame a sluggish start to annex a Belmont optional claimer for Graham Motion July 2, and was the easiest of two-length winners last time going 1 3/8 miles here Aug. 6. Favored among the American runners at 7-2 on the morning line is West Point Thoroughbreds’ familiar fixture Twilight Eclipse (Purim). Third in this race a year ago–one spot behind Imagining (Giant’s Causeway)–the 6-year-old earned his long-awaited first Grade I tally by a neck from War Dancer (War Front) in Belmont’s Man o’ War S. May 9. An uncharacteristic seventh in the GI Manhattan S. June 6, he found himself farther back than usual in Monmouth’s GI United Nations S. July 5, but put in a solid run to round out the trifecta. “Looking at the race on paper, I think we have a great shot to be there,” said trainer Tom Albertrani. “I think we have a great chance to win it. So if he runs his race, we’ll just need a little luck to get there.”

Red Rifle (Giant’s Causeway) annexed Woodbine’s GIII Dominion Day S. on the Polytrack two back July 1, and parlayed a rail-skimming run into a 2 1/2-length victory over War Dancer and Imagining in the local GII Bowling Green H. Aug. 1.