Bricks and Mortar favored

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bricks and Mortar, the leading turf horse in the United States, is unlikely to face a leading rival when he starts at 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

Wednesday, Breeders’ Cup officials announced that 14 horses have been pre-entered for the BC Turf, the richest grass race in the United States. Bricks and Mortar also was pre-entered in the BC Mile, but trainer Chad Brown has said in recent weeks that the BC Turf is a primary goal.

The field is unlikely to include Magical, second in the 2018 BC Turf at Churchill Downs, or Mrs. Sippy, a stakes winner at Saratoga in August.

Magical, winner of the Group 1 Champion Stakes against males on Oct. 19 at Ascot, is likely to run in BC Filly and Mare Turf, trainer Aidan O’Brien told reporters earlier this week.

O’Brien has three runners on the pre-entry list for the BC Turf, including top contender Anthony Van Dyck, winner of the English Derby in June, and Mount Everest, who won the minor Trigo Stakes at Leopardstown, Ireland, on Oct. 19. Mount Everest has never started in a Group 1 or Grade 1 race.

Mrs. Sippy, who also is preentered in the Filly and Mare Turf, won the Grade 2 Glen Falls Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Aug., 31 at Saratoga in her American debut and was second to top BC Filly and Mare Turf contender

Sistercharlie in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational on Oct. 6 at Belmont Park.

Trainer Graham Motion said Wednesday that he wants to assess the fields for the two races before finalizing plans. A decision must be made on Monday, when post positions are drawn.

“I want to see what’s in the [Turf] and see what Chad is doing,” he said. “I want to see the depth of the mile and a half.”

Bricks and Mortar is expected to be favored. Owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, Bricks and Mortar is unbeaten in five starts this year, the most recent of which was the Grade 1 Arlington Million on Aug. 10 at Arlington Park.

Wednesday, United, who will be a longshot in the BC Turf, worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 on the main track at Santa Anita and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27, according to trainer Richard Mandella.

The BC Turf will be United’s first start at 1 1/2 miles. Earlier this year, United was second in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes in May and third in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship on Sept. 28. Those races were run at 1 1/4 miles.

“I think he’ll appreciate it,” Mandella said of the distance.

United had an interrupted preparation for the John Henry Turf Championship. Mandella said United sustained a cut on an ankle a week before the race that required stitches and two days of stall rest at a pivotal time in the build-up to the local prep.