The hunt for a key race to assist predict the result of the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Offered by PDJF (G1T) Nov. 6 at Del Mar leads by way of a spider’s net of cross references and compelling particular person performances.
Space Blues , the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Mile, was dazzling in the Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) at ParisLongchamp on the day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), coming on the heels of an equally impressive victory at York. However, it is entirely possible that in the deepening Parisian twilight jockey Billy Lee and his filly, Pearls Galore , did not get a chance to engage the hurtling winner, busy as they were with Entscheiden , the horse in between.
Before that, Pearls Galore was a close second in the Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown in September, with favored Mother Earth third, handcuffed on the rails. That was a tough beat for Mother Earth, but if she and Ryan Moore expect a smoother trip around two turns among 14 runners at Del Mar, they are in trouble.
Raging Bull is batting one for his last eight starts, and yet he seems to grow wings for Chad Brown when placed on firm West Coast ground, as he displayed in winning the 2020 Shoemaker Mile (G1T) at Santa Anita Park and the 2018 Hollywood Derby (G1T) at Del Mar. Raging Bull’s stablemate, the Dansili mare Blowout , also thrives by the Pacific, as she did when a close second in the 2020 Matriarch (G1T) at Del Mar.
Now 6 and making her third Breeders’ Cup appearance, Got Stormy has earned far more than any other horse in the race. That was Got Stormy finishing second to Uni in the 2019 Mile at Santa Anita. She is in good form, and 6-year-old mares have won Breeders’ Cup races before—namely Bayakoa, Blue Prize , Beholder , Stephanie’s Kitten , and Maryfield . After 31 starts, Got Stormy could join them.
Deeper within the area, it’s most likely smart to not neglect the Brazilian pair from the Paulo Lobo secure. In Love enters the Mile in high form after stakes wins at Kentucky Downs and Keeneland, whereas Ivar will be making his third start of the campaign in hopes of reliving his win in the 2020 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T).
Charlie Appleby, who trains Space Blues, also runs Master of The Seas . Casa Creed has been beaten by several in the race, but that’s Bill Mott in his corner. And Vin de Garde , a son of Deep Impact, gives Japan a rooting interest.
Then again, at the end of the day the Mile might turn out to be one more chapter in the ongoing squabble among the three contentious Californians—Mo Forza , Smooth Like Strait , and Hit the Road . The most recent races for the West’s best milers have unwound in the above order, just in case no one was paying attention to the Del Mar Mile (G2T) and needed the City of Hope Mile (G2T) at Santa Anita to refresh the memory. No more than a length separated the trio at the end of either event.
But because he won them both—and eight of his last nine starts—5-year-old Mo Forza deserves most of the attention from horseplayers. While Mo Forza was sidelined during the first part of the season, Hit the Road beat Smooth Like Strait in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T) at Santa Anita, then tried the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1T) at Keeneland, to no avail. Smooth Like Strait also went east to be third, beaten only a neck by the dead-heating Colonel Liam and Domestic Spending in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs. Again dwelling in California, with neither of his rivals in the best way, Clean Like Strait received the Shoemaker Mile in a waltz.
Michael McCarthy, who trains Clean Like Strait for Cannon Thoroughbreds of Mike and Jennifer Cannon, was requested if the important thing to profitable the Mile was determining easy methods to end in entrance of Mo Forza.
“Clearly he is a really gifted horse,” McCarthy replied. “He exhibits up sporadically, however when he exhibits up he exhibits up in a giant manner.”
Mo Forza has run 5 instances within the final two seasons. In contrast, 4-year-old Clean Like Strait has run 13 instances. Solely as soon as in that stretch was he worse than third, when fourth within the 2020 American Turf Stakes Offered by Smithfield (G2T) at Churchill Downs wherein he pressed a blistering tempo and gave manner solely within the closing 50 yards.
“I feel he is put collectively a rèsumè that is as constant as anyone within the division,” McCarthy mentioned. “And he is a horse who can do all of it. He is quick. He carries his pace.”
McCarthy is aware of higher than to present his rider, Umberto Rispoli, any detailed technique in a two-turn race with 14 high quality milers.
“On a day like Breeders’ Cup day, everybody will get into the gate being the very best they will presumably be,” McCarthy mentioned. “You simply hope everybody will get a clear break, and your horse is the place you need him to be turning down the bottom. Let the horses determine it out from there.”
OFFICIAL: Publish Positions for the $2 Million @FanDuel #BreedersCup Mile offered by @PDJFund at @DelMarRacing.
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— Breeders’ Cup (@BreedersCup) November 1, 2021
