IT’S the final big week of action before the Breeders’ Cup in the US this weekend and Irish interest is provided by the Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old Diego Velazquez (Frankie Dettori), as the trainer seeks a first US Grade 1 this season.
Sam Sangster’s Prix Jacques le Marois winner heads a field of 12 for the $1.25 million Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile.
It’s a quality field with Jonquil from Britain and Group 1 winner Woodshauna from France.
Diego Velazquez’s run style should suit and this looks a good target.
But his biggest danger looks like another of the international travellers in the Graffard-trained Woodshauna, winner of the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, and third to Sajir and Lazzat in the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs last time.
Program Trading (Flavien Prat/Chad Brown), looks the best of the Americans though Meathman John Ennis saddles Epic Ride.
SELECTION: WOODSHAUNA
Next best: Diego Velazquez
The $800,000 Grade 1 First Lady attracted a field of 12 plus four also-eligibles including Grade 1 Jenny Wiley winner Choisya (Frankie Dettori) from the Simon Crisford stable plus Ollie Sangster runs his 1000 Guineas third Simmering, third in a French Group 3 last time.
The best of the US are Klaravich Stables’ Dynamic Pricing (Night Of Thunder) and Juddmonte’s Segesta for trainer Chad Brown. In the July 12th Grade 1 Diana Stakes, Choisya was just edged by Dynamic Pricing for third, but the US filly’s overall form is better.
Former Irish-trained Special Wan is an ‘also eligible’.
The Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity is headlined by unbeaten impressive Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes winner Ted Noffey. The dual winner Ewing won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes and will give him a good test. Impressive maiden winners Blackout Time and Big Dom are also in the line-up.
The Grade 2 Woodford over five and a half furlongs attracted a field of nine headed by Fitriani Hay’s Group 1 winner Khaadem (Frankie Dettori), placed in Kentucky Downs on his last run, and multiple stakes-winning Governor Sam, who will be facing older runners for the first time in his career.
Aqueduct
At Aqueduct, David Egan travels to partner Hill Road for Amo Racing in the Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes (6.43pm). Hill Road was fifth in a star-studded Belmont field that included the three best three-year-olds in the country (Sovereignty, Journalism and Baeza) and moves back to turf.
He was third in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on dirt. Crudo has a good run on dirt when he won the Sir Barton Stakes. Hill Road finished third in a strong three-year-old turf contest at Kentucky Downs and could get a US win on the board here.
There are two more Grade 1 juvenile contests on the card, leading up to the Breeders’ Cup, the Champagne and the Frizette Stakes. It’s Our Time attracts attention in the Champagne, an over 17-length winner of his August debut at Saratoga and is even-money on the morning line.
Carmel Coast is coming off an impressive debut maiden victory at Saratoga, while Danny Gargan’s Iron Orchard has won her two races.
Santa Anita
Bob Baffert has won the last four runnings of the Grade 1 American Pharoah and has the favourite again in Desert Gate, who won his maiden at Santa Anita and captured the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes by over eight lengths in August. He was then second to another Baffert potential star, Brandt, in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. Baffert also runs Kristofferson, Balboa and Plutarch.
Woodbine
In Woodbine this evening, Billy Loughnane again steps in for William Buick when he partners Charlie Appleby’s Nations Pride to go off favourite for the Grade 1 Canadian International (10.41pm).
Winner in 2023, Nations Pride was caught late by his stablemate, El Cordobes in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga, but that was his first run since Meydan in April.
Trainer Hamad Al Jehani runs Haunted Dream and Silawi for Wathnan Racing.
Haunted Dream won the trial for this, the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes and is second favourite under jockey Rafael Hernandez, while Silawi won the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor last time out but on best form, the Godolphin runner should outclass him.
Keeneland Sunday
Back at Keeneland tomorrow, all eyes will be on the reigning Horse of the Year, Thorpedo Anna as she heads the small field of five females for $650,000 Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster tomorrow.
The champion will be ridden by Flavien Prat for the first time, with Brian Hernandez injured.
Among those lined up to face Thorpedo Anna is the three-year-old Nitrogen, winner of the Grade 1 Alabama, who will be making her first start against older horses.
Juddmonte Farms’ home-bred Scylla, a Grade 1-placed and Grade 2 winner, stretches out to a longer distance.
The feeling was that the champion of last year was not always at her best this season and Nitrogen has only one narrow defeat from her six runs this season.