Stage set for $6M showdown at Breeders’ Cup
With juveniles done, Accelerate’s bid to win Classic is in the spotlight
LOUISVILLE, KY.— The two-day Breeders’ Cup, dubbed the Super Bowl of thoroughbred racing, opened Friday with five races for juveniles. Winners included Newspaper of record, which went off as the 3-to-5 favourite in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and 5-to-1 shot Jaywalk in the Juvenile Fillies.
The showcase was back in familiar surroundings at Churchill Downs, with an additional stakes race bumping the program to 14 and prize money up to a record $30 million U.S.
As always, the marquee race is Saturday’s $6 million Cup Classic that could help determine which thoroughbred ends up winning horse of the year in the United States. Not to mention, establishing the top horse in several age divisions along with the top jockey and trainer.
One notable absence from the Classic is Triple Crown winner Justify, whom trainer Bob Baffert retired in July because of an ankle ailment. That leaves the Classic without horse racing’s biggest name, but also a bunch of horses poised to make their presence known — and bettors happy.
Accelerate aims to make it six wins in seven starts this year as the 5-to-2 favourite in the 11⁄ mile headliner. “He’s had a really beautiful year,” trainer John Sadler said. “He’s a really healthy, strong guy. As a 5-yearold, he’s come out of those Classic races in good shape physically and continued right on.”
The season-ending championships should also provide a glimpse of what to expect when racing returns to the historic track for next May’s 145th Ken- tucky Derby. Churchill Downs is hosting the season-ending event for a record-tying ninth time and first since 2011. Santa Anita has also hosted nine times, most recently in 2016.
Some things to watch for on day two:
WELL RESTED
Baffert’s decision to not run Justify in the Classic is offset by two horses coming off sixmonth breaks. West Coast’s runner-up finish to Accelerate in the Awesome Again Stakes was among three seconds this year. McKinzie’s Pennsylvania Derby victory came after he was disqualified to second in the Grade 2 San Felipe in March. The 3-year-old also won the Grade 3 Sham at Santa Anita.
STAR-STUDDED DISTAFF
This race for fillies and mares features the two most recent Kentucky Oaks winners in Monomoy Girl and Abel Tasman. Trained by Louisville na- tive Brad Cox, Monomoy Girl has won five of six as a 3-yearold and might have been unbeaten if not for a disqualification to second after winning the Grade 1 Cotillion in September. Second in last year’s Distaff at Del Mar, Abel Tasman has eight wins and four seconds in 15 career starts and was last year’s Eclipse Award winner as top 3year-old filly. Queen’s Plate winner Wonder Gadot is also in the field.
TOUGH ON TURF
British filly Enable will make her American debut in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf as the even-money favourite behind Lanfranco Dettori. The 4year-old has won both starts this year, including her second consecutive win in the Arc de Triomphe in France by a neck. She has nine wins and a third in 10 starts and more than $8.5 million in career earnings.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Irish-based trainer Aiden O’Brien has 15 entrants among eight races this weekend. The Mile will have four O’Brien horses.
SCHEDULE CHANGES
The $1 million Cup Dirt Mile and $2 million Cup Distaff moved from Friday to Saturday and expanded the card to nine races.