Saturday, November 2nd plays host to day two of the Breeders’ Cup. Santa Anita Park welcomes a stellar line up of racing and with nine of the twelve races being of Grade 1 status.
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint welcomes nine runners to the field which is run on the main track (dirt). The seven-furlong contest is open to fillies and mares three years of age plus.
Covfefe is trained by Brad Cox and is the ante-post favourite for the opening Grade 1. A fast filly, with a 5 to 7 record including winning both goes over this trip. One to beat.
Trainer Carlos Martin is being represented by Come Dancing, a five-year-old mare who is full of potential. She improved in New York earlier this year and she has gained four wins to her name, including winning a Grade 1 at Saratoga over seven furlongs.
Peter Miller-trained Spice Perfection is dual Grade 1 winning filly (both wins over seven furlongs). On her last trip to Santa Anita December last, the daughter of Smiling Tiger won in style.
Selection: Covfefe
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
The second Grade 1 on the card, is the five-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. It is set to be an open race. However, Eddie Haskell is the name being mentioned. The Mark Glatt- trained six-year-old has plenty of experience clocked up and comes from the back of a good run where he finished second in the Eddie D Stakes here at this track.
George Arnold II holds a hand of two runners on the card to include Totally Boss and Leinster. Totally Boss perhaps being the strong contender. The four-year-old has improved this year, winning four out of five starts, most recently the six-furlong Runhappy Turf Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs. While Leinster is still in the mix and Tyler Gaffalione is set to do the steering.
Legendary Italian jockey Frankie Dettori takes the ride on Joseph Orseno’s Imprimis. The five-year-old had an impressive win in the 5.5 furlong Grade 2 Shakertown at Keeneland last April. Although he has not performed as well since, connections will be hopeful he can return to winning ways.
Another entry to keep an eye on is Christophe Clement-trained Pure Sensation who has won four out of five runs this year.
Selection: Imprimis
Coal Front and Jose Ortiz win the Godolphin Mile from Heavy Metal
Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
This one-mile contest welcomes ten runners to go to post. Omaha Beach will be the one to beat in this Grade 1. The three-year-old made all the running in the one mile and one furlong Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn in April, he was off the track until Grade 1 at Santa Anita at the start of the month where he subsequently won.
Bob Baffert-trained Improbable is another major force among entries. Although he comes off the back of a poor run at Parx race track in September, he has plenty of ability.
Other entries to keep an eye on include Todd Pletcher-trained Coal Front who won the Grade 2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai last March and on the five-year-old’s last outing stormed home in the one-mile Parx Dirt Mile Stakes.
Selection: Omaha Beach
Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
The Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf is open to fillies and mares three years of age and older and is run over one-mile and two furlongs. Twelve runners are set to go to post.
Chad Brown-trained Sistercharlie will be the one to watch – with seven Grade 1 wins to her name, including winning on all three starts this term, it will be hard to get in front. However, there are some other strong contenders in this race.
Joseph O’Brien-trained Iridessa will give Sistercharlie good competition. Having won three one-mile to one mile-two furlong Group 1 races in Britain and Ireland – two of which were this year – the filly is certainly on form. Set to be ridden by Wayne Lordan, she will be one to watch.
Keeping it a family affair, Aidan O’Brien runs Fleeting and Ryan Moore is set to do the steering. One to watch on the each-way betting market.
Selection: Iridessa
Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Ten horses are set to go to post in the six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The Grade 1 is open to horses three years and older. Steven Asmussen-trained-Mitole has made the top three on all 13 starts, winning nine including three seven-furlong – one-mile Grade 1’s with the latest being the seven-furlong Forego Stakes at Saratoga. A serious contender in this race.
Asmussen also runs Engage who won a six-furlong Grade 2 at Keeneland on his last outing, however, the Breeders’ Cup Sprint will be significantly tougher.
Javier Castellano takes the ride aboard Imperial Hint who is trained by Luis Carvajal. The six-year-old has placed twice in this race and also have four six-furlong Grade 1 wins to his record. If in form will be hard to beat.
Other horses to keep an eye on include, Catalina Cruiser who is set to be ridden by Joel Rosario and trained by John Sadler.
Selection: Mitole
TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile
The TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile welcomes fourteen runners to the field. Aidan O’Brien-trained Circus Maximus will be the one to watch out for. The Ballydoyle superstar is set to be ridden by Ryan Moore. The three-year-old has won two one-mile Grade 1’s this year but it will be interesting to note how he finds the company State-side.
Chad Brown’s Uni is another strong entry. The five-year-old has plenty of past experience, to include, two Grade 1 one-mile wins. The latest being his victory of the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland.
While Mark Casse trained Got Stormy had two impressive Grade 1 wins a run back, the four-year-old finished second to El Tormenta on the latest outing at Woodbine. This test at Santa Anita should suit.
El Tormenta is also among entries. The Canadian-trained gelding had improved to win the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, however, one may question the fact he had the home-field advantage.
Selection: Circus Maximus
Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff
The Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff is run over one-mile and one furlongs and is open to fillies and mares three years plus. The Grade 1 welcomes eleven runners to this year’s contest.
Five-time Grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou is the ante-post favourite and is trained by Steven Asmussen. Mike Smith takes the ride aboard the four-year-old. Third in this contest last year this filly has had an exceptional season this year with seven out of seven starts. One to beat.
Blue Prize was a close fourth in this last season and has won one-mile and one furlong Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland for the previous two years. A good mare, she will have to give her all against Midnight Bisou.
Trainer Chad Brown has a double entry on the field, being represented by Dunbar Road and Wow Cat. Dunbar Road won the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga. On the three-year-old’s last outing she finished third to Blue Prize at Keeneland.
Wow Cat may struggle in this as on the last two outings has been no match for the talented Midnight Bisou.
Selection: Midnight Bisou
Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf
The Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf is run over one-mile and four furlongs. And the 2019 contest welcomes twelve runners to the field.
Aidan O’Brien holds a double on the card with Anthony Van Dyck and Mount Everest. O’Brien has won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf six times over his career and so will be eager to add another notch to his belt!
Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck wants quick ground but will be one to watch as stable jockey Ryan Moore is set to do the steering. While Wayne Lordan takes the rein aboard Mount Everest, whose dam won the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita, he certainly has potential and the breeding matches – but it will be a big step up in terms of competition.
Bricks and Mortar represents Chad Brown and returned to the track last December after a notable break and has since won four Grade 1’s. One to watch.
Charlie Appleby-trained Old Persian has had two top-level wins this year over one-mile and four furlongs. On his last outing, he won comfortably at Woodbine. Certainly a strong contender.
Selection: Anthony Van Dyck
Vino Rosso at Santa Anita earlier this week
Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic
The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic is the final Grade 1 of the two-day festival. Run over one-mile and two furlongs eleven runners go to post and it is a pretty open race.
Bob Baffert-trained McKenzie has a consistent form and on his last outing finished a strong second in Grade 1 at Santa Anita.
Vino Rosso runs in the colours of Todd Pletcher and is another strong contender. First past the post in two one-mile and two furlong Grade 1’s this season he will stand a chance in this contest.
William Mott-trained Elate may have only raced only against her own sex but has had two Grade 1 wins the later where she won the Delaware Handicap.
Other entries to keep an eye on include Code Of Honor who is trained by Claude McGaughey III and William Mott’s second entry Yoshida.
Selection: Vino Rosso
