The $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1) is shaping up as arguably the deepest of any of the 14 Breeders’ Cup races, as a winning case could be made for many of the 14 potential starters, including Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta, and Bethlehem Stables’ defending champion UNI (GB) in a field that could be oversubscribed.
Favoritism could go any number of different ways but Uni figures well-backed for trainer Chad Brown, especially since she just secured her first win of the year over the course and distance by defending her title in the First Lady (G1), which was a “Win and You’re In” for the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
The 6-year-old daughter of More Than Ready was the Champion Turf Female last year on the basis of her Mile win at Santa Anita, but lost her first two starts this year before winning the First Lady. Uni, who is 11-for-21 lifetime, will reportedly be making the final start of her career in the Mile.
Potentially five “Win and You’re In” automatic qualifiers could meet the starter, as Harrell Ventures’ HALLADAY, who wired Saratoga’s Fourstardave (G1) Aug. 22 for trainer Todd Pletcher, Bonne Chance Farm and Stud RDI’s IVAR (BRZ), who won the course and distance Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) Oct. 3 for trainer Paulo Lobo, Peter Brant’s RAGING BULL (FR), who won the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita in May for Brown and was second in the Shadwell, and Blue Heaven Farm’s STARSHIP JUBILEE, who beat males in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) Sept. 19 for trainer Kevin Attard, all expected for the US.
From Europe, Flaxman Stables and Coolmore’s CIRCUS MAXIMUS (IRE), who won the Queen Anne (G1) at Royal Ascot in June and was fourth in the Mile last year for trainer Aidan O’Brien, is a possibility, though he was just 10th in the Queen Elizabeth II Sponsored by QIPCO (G1, see race recap below) Saturday at Ascot.
BEAU RECALL (IRE), CASA CREED, DIGITAL AGE (IRE), FACTOR THIS, MARCH TO THE ARCH, MO FORZA, SHARP SAMURAI, and WITHOUT PAROLE (GB) are all potential American-based FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile starters, while ONE MASTER (GB), SAFE VOYAGE (IRE), SISKIN, and SPEAK OF THE DEVIL (FR) could make the trip from Europe.
FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJF – Breeders’ Cup Challenge (BCC) Winners and Points Leaders
Points, Horse, Trainer, Owner
Photo: Starship Jubilee takes the “Win and You’re In” Ricoh Woodbine Mile Credit: Eclipse Sportswire
