Spa stars gear up for Breeders’ Cup ‘17

Led by Gun Runner, West Coast, and World Approval, the Stars of Saratoga are set for this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar Race Track in California.

Gun Runner swept the Whitney and Woodward stakes, both prestigious Grade 1 events, by a combined 15 ½ lengths, setting himself up for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and a third meeting with Arrogate.

If he turns the tables on Arrogate, who defeated him in last year’s Travers and this year’s Dubai World Cup, a Classic victory will be his fourth consecutive Grade 1 win and make him a serious Horse of the Year contender.

Also headed for the Classic is West Coast, who has vaulted to the top of the 3-year-old male division without making a single start in the Triple Crown series. West Coast won the Grade 1 Travers, his fourth straight win

in a five-race streak, and followed with the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby to take command of his division.

World Approval, winner of the Grade 1 Fourstardave at the Spa, is among the choices in the contentious Breeders’ Cup Mile on the grass.

World Approval followed his Fourstardave score with a convincing win in the Woodbine Mile and represents the best American hope against the always formidable Europeans in this event.

Practical Joke, last seen winning the Grade 1 Jerkens at Saratoga on Travers Day, is something of a longshot in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

The prevailing wisdom about Practical Joke is that he is winless in five races at two turns, while winning all three of his Grade 1 starts at one turn. In addition to the Jerkens they are the Hopeful and Champagne in 2016. That said, I give him a solid chance in the Dirt Mile if there is a pace meltdown.

Sadlers Joy, winner of the Grade 1 Sword Dancer on Travers Day, is in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He is a specialist at the mile and a half distance, having broken his maiden at Saratoga in 2016 and winning the Grade 2 Pan American earlier this year at Gulfstream Park.

The Breeders’ Cup Distaff has three Grade 1 winners from Saratoga in the entries.

They are Elate, winner of the Alabama, Abel Tasman, winner of the Coaching Club American Oaks, and the older Forever Unbridled, winner of the Personal Ensign. A victory by Elate would put her level with Abel Tasman in the battle for champion 3-year-old filly.

Despite her loss in the Grade 1 Cotillion last out, Abel Tasman remains the division leader off her consecutive Grade 1 scores in the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn, and Coaching Club American Oaks.

A Distaff victory by Elate might put her over the top, as it would be her second win over older females, the first coming in the Grade 1 Beldame after her Alabama victory.

By the Moon, winner of the Grade 1 Ballerina at 7 furlongs, is in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at the same distance. She is joined by Paulassilverlining, fifth in the Ballerina, but first in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga.

The popular and brave Lady Eli is among the choices in the Filly and Mare Turf.

She won the Grade 1 Diana and Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga, and would undoubtedly capture an Eclipse Award with a victory.

The powerful Drefong, who made a shambles of the Grade 1 Forego from post position 10 at Saratoga, is the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He is an awesome performer, and he is the one to beat in that race.

The Breeders’ Cup gets underway on Fri., Nov. 3, with the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Dirt Mile, Juvenile Turf, and Distaff.

On Sat., Nov. 4 the weekend is completed with the Juvenile Fillies, Turf Sprint, Filly and Mare Sprint, Filly and Mare Turf, Sprint, Mile, Juvenile, Turf, and Classic.