California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) will go postward as a deserved short-priced favorite in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic, but connections of nine rivals are hoping to spoil the chestnut champion's perfect season in the $6-million race.
Trainer Jimmy Jerkens will saddle a pair of Classic contenders in 15-1 outsider Effinex (Mineshaft) and 20-1 longshot Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper), last-out winner of the Sept. 3 GI Woodward S.
“You just hope to get a good trip,” Jerkens said. “Other than those two horses [California Chrome and GI Travers S. winner Arrogate], everybody has been taking turns beating each other. You just hope to get a good trip.”
Effinex, coming off a runner-up effort behind Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) in the Oct. 8 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, was second behind American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) after sitting a stalking trip behind the Triple Crown winner in last year's Classic. Jerkens is hoping for a similar trip this year when the Tri-Bone Stables' runner breaks from the rail.
“I'd like him to break cleanly and have him come running out of there and keep his nice rail spot and let the others go to the lead. I hope they run out of there so he won't be cramped up in there. That would be ideal,” Jerkens said.
Godolphin's Frosted (Tapit) was fifth behind California Chrome when they met in the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March. After wins in the GI Metropolitan H. and GI Whitney S., he will be making his first start since finishing third in the Woodward.
“He's doing great,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “California Chrome beat him fair and square then, but we hope that we can turn the tables. The horse is doing great, but we have a lot of respect for California Chrome.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher saddles 20-1 longshot Keen Ice (Curlin), who upset American Pharoah in last year's Travers.
“He's the kind of horse that's shown on a given day he's capable of beating anyone,” said Pletcher, who took over the training of Keen Ice in July. “He loves a mile and a quarter and benefits from a fast pace.”
Eighth in the World Cup, the 4-year-old bay was a late-closing third in his only start since, a one-mile optional claimer at Belmont Oct. 7. Pletcher said he wouldn't try to change the colt's late-running style.
“You have to allow him to be comfortable early on. You can't force him out of his game,” Pletcher said. “His game is to keep coming, so we'll allow him to do that.”
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