Classic, Distaff offer BC intrigue
The defections started last Tuesday, one day after the deadline for taking Breeders’ Cup pre-entries. First, Spinaway winner Lady Ivanka was withdrawn from the Juvenile Fillies because of a bruised foot. Two days later, Classic contender Keen Ice was retired because of a training injury. Two horses were withdrawn on Friday: recent Spinster winner It Tiz Well (Distaff) and two-time Grade 1 winner Bal a Bali (Mile), who was also retired. On Sunday, it was announced that Diversify would pass on the Classic and Imperative would not run in the Dirt Mile.
Of course, all of this is nothing new. Each year many preentered horses, for one reason or another, don’t actually make the Breeders’ Cup — most of
because of races being over-subscribed. Despite these withdrawals, however, Breeders’ Cup XXXIV remains well-stocked with talent. The top dozen horses in last week’s NTRA’s poll — Gun Runner, Arrogate, Collected, West Coast, Stellar Wind, Lady Eli, Beach Patrol, Mor Spirit, Drefong, World Approval, Forever Unbridled and Elate — are all expected at Del Mar. The foreign contingent boasts four of this year’s eight toprated Europeans: Ulysses, Ribchester, Churchill and Highland Reel.
As usual, the thirteen Breeders’ Cup races will be spread over two days, four on Friday and nine on Saturday. All 13 are Grade 1s, but not all Grade 1s are equal, even at the Breeders’ Cup. Here are brief looks at the four most compelling races.
Classic
Gun Runner was no match for Arrogate in the 2016 Travers or this year’s Dubai World Cup, but the four-year-old son of Candy Ride has dominated in three straight Grade 1s since. Arrogate has lost his last two starts, both at Del Mar, and will need to be at his absolute best to knock off an in-careerform Gun Runner. Collected, who held off Arrogate in the Pacific Classic, has won all four 2017 starts.
Three-year-olds have won the last three Classics. The most dangerous sophomore in this year’s field is West Coast, an easy winner of the Travers and Pennsylvania Derby. The son of Flatter has yet to face horses of the caliber he will on Saturday, however.
Distaff
Horse for horse, the Distaff boasts this year’s strongest field. Likely favorite Stellar Wind will be looking to add a seventh Grade 1 to her resume after finishing second in this race in 2015 and fourth last year. Forever Unbridled, conqueror of Songbird in her last outing, should offer the toughest competition.
Still, 3-year-olds cannot be overlooked here either. Abel Tasman won three Grade 1s back in the spring and early summer, and Elate — with convincing victories in the Alabama and versus a weak field of older runners in the Beldame — has been even more impressive.
Filly & Mare Turf
If fans were asked which horse they’d most like to see win at this year’s Breeders’ Cup, Lady Eli would probably get the most votes. The popular mare, a winner of the 2014 Juvenile Fillies Turf, was beaten a nose by Queen’s Trust in last year’s running.
Queen’s Trust is back to defend her title, but is winless in five 2017 starts. Lady Eli’s toughest competition could come from Aidan O’Brien’s Roly Poly. The three-time Grade 1 winner, all at one mile, is cross-entered in the Mile, but the Filly & Mare Turf is listed as her first preference.
Turf
The Turf battle between European heavies Highland Reel, last year’s winner of the race, Ulysses and Decorated Knight is the Breeders’ Cup event of greatest interest to folks on the other side of the Atlantic. The three standouts have combined to win seven Group 1s in 2017.
The best hopes for the home team probably rest with Beach Patrol, winner of the Arlington Million and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, and Sword Dancer winner Sadler’s Joy. A win Saturday by Oscar Performance, whose victories this year include the Belmont Derby and Secretariat Stakes, could keep the sophomore in the running for champion 3-year-old — depending on how West Coast fares in the Classic.