Preview & Trifecta - Breeders' Cup Turf
European Highland Reel To Defend Title From US Raiders
The Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor owned son of Galileo and defending Turf champion Highland Reel leads the European contingent. He seeks to claim the title once again, in the 34rd running of the $4 million Gr.1
Breeders’ Cup Turf for 3Yos. He won the Gr.1 Prince of Wales’ Stakes with disarming charm and placed third in the Gr.1 Champion Stakes recently beaten by Cracksman and Poets Word. The Flaxman Stables homebred trained enters off a third to the brilliant filly Enable in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Michael Stoute-trained Ulysses should do well in this year’s shallow field. Whereas Multiple Group 1 winner Decorated Knight is a bit of an unknown at 12 furlongs, but this should be a better fit for him than the Mile. Itsinthepost is arguably California's best turf male this year but must raise his game to be competitive in this field.
Oscar Performance can be an formidable competitor. He ran third in the Hirsch, when he was not handled as aggressively as trainer Brian Lynch would have liked. Beach Patrol’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic was the best effort by a U.S. turf male so far this year but does he have the form for this year’s Turf Classic. He has an outside chance of winning if he can take the lead against Ulysses and Highland Reel. Beach Patrol also has run well at Del Mar in his one outing there, a second in last year's Gr.1 Hollywood Derby.
Gate |
Horse Name |
Age |
Origin |
Pedigree |
Trainer |
Owner |
Jockey |
Race Form |
1 |
Talismanic |
4 |
GB |
Medaglia D'Oro-Magic Mission(Machiavellian) |
Andre Fabre |
Godolphin S.N.C. |
TBD |
15 Starts, 5 Wins |
2 |
Bullards Alley |
5 |
USA |
Flower Alley-Flower Forest(Kris S) |
Tim Glyshaw |
Spalding, Wayne and McCubbins, Faron |
TBD |
35 Starts, 6 Wins |
3 |
Highland Reel |
5 |
IRE |
Galileo-Hveger(Danehill) |
Aidan O'Brien |
Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor |
TBD |
25 Starts, 8 Wins |
4 |
Decorated Knight |
5 |
GB |
Galileo-Pearling(Storm Cat) |
Roger Charlton |
Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar |
TBD |
18 Starts, 8 Wins |
5 |
Ulysses |
4 |
IRE |
Galileo-Light Shift(Kingmambo) |
Mr Stoute |
Flaxman St. Ire/Cheveley P.S. |
TBD |
13 Starts, 5 Wins |
6 |
Cliffs of Moher |
3 |
IRE |
Galileo-Wave(Dansili) |
Aidan O'Brien |
Mrs Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/M Jooste |
TBD |
8 Starts, 2 Wins |
7 |
Itsinthepost |
5 |
FR |
American Post-Sakkara Star(Mozart) |
Jeff Mullins |
Red Baron's Barn LLC |
TBD |
29 Starts, 6 Wins |
8 |
Bigger Picture |
6 |
USA |
Badge Of Silver-Glory Dancer(Honour And Glory) |
Michael Maker |
Three Diamonds Farm |
TBD |
27 Starts, 10 Wins |
9 |
Seventh Heaven |
4 |
IRE |
Galileo-La Traviata(Johannesburg) |
Aidan O'Brien |
D.Smith/Mme J.Magnier/M.Tabor |
TBD |
13 Starts, 6 Wins |
10 |
Fanciful Angel |
5 |
IRE |
Dark Angel-Fanciful Dancer(Groom Dancer) |
Chad Brown |
Head of Plains Partners LLC, Madaket Stables LLC et al. |
TBD |
25 Starts, 5 Wins |
11 |
Hunt |
5 |
IRE |
Dark Angel-Mansiya(Vettori) |
Philip D'Amato |
Michael House |
TBD |
24 Starts, 7 Wins |
12 |
Beach Patrol |
4 |
USA |
Lemon Drop Kid-Bashful Bertie(Quiet American) |
Chad Brown |
Covello, James, Sheep Pond Partners and Head of Plains Partners LLC |
TBD |
16 Starts, 5 Wins |
13 |
Sadler's Joy |
4 |
USA |
Kitten'S Joy-Dynaire(Dynaformer) |
Thomas Albertrani |
Woodslane Farm |
TBD |
13 Starts, 5 Wins |
14 |
Oscar Performance |
3 |
USA |
Kitten'S Joy-Devine Actress(Theatrical) |
Brian Lynch |
Amerman Racing LLC |
TBD |
10 Starts, 6 Wins |
Trifecta:
1) Highland Reel
2) Ulysses
3) Itsinthepost