The presence of the most accomplished United States-based colts thus far and a strong contingent from Europe should spell value for those who wager on the Nov. 7 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.
Pre-entries show 20 2-year-old colts and geldings for the $2-million Juvenile, to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the Pro-Ride surface. Several were cross-entered in the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IIT) the same day.
U.S.-based horses that figure to garner the most attention are undefeated Lookin At Lucky , winner of two grade I stakes in California; D' Funnybone , winner of a pair of grade II stakes in New York; and Noble's Promise , a grade I winner on Polytrack at Keeneland. It would appear Lookin At Lucky, with a local victory and four total wins on synthetic surfaces, stands the best chance to be the shortest price of the three.
Group I pre-entrants from Europe are Alfred Nobel and Beethoven, who have raced exclusively on turf. Other group-stakes winners are Buzzword and Radiohead; and Vale of York, runner-up in a group I event in Italy in his last start. Those three also show turf form only.
| Breeders' Cup Juvenile Slideshow | |||
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The 1st 25 years of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. | ||
As usual, there are prospective Juvenile starters making their first start at the distance and around two turns. One of them is D’ Funnybone, who won the Futurity Stakes (gr. I) at seven furlongs at Belmont Park in his last start. Of the U.S. horses, he looks the quickest from the gate.
Lookin At Lucky and Noble’s Promise both won at 1 1/16 miles in their first starts at the distance in almost identical time. Of the European stretch-out horses, Radiohead, who never has raced farther than six furlongs, is interesting given his pedigree; he’s by former Juvenile winner Johannesburg out of the Belong to Me mare Security Interest.
The Juvenile is the fifth race—fourth Breeders’ Cup race—on the Saturday program. Here are the pre-entries in alphabetical order, with owners and trainers:
Aikenite, Dogwood Stable, Todd A. Pletcher
Alfred Nobel (IRE), Michael Tabor , Mrs. John Magnier , Derrick Smith, Aidan P. O'Brien
Aspire, Gary & Mary West Stables, Eddie Kenneally
Awesome Act, Mrs. Susan Roy , Tom Ludt, Jeremy Noseda
Beethoven (IRE), Michael Tabor , Mrs. John Magnier , Derrick Smith, Aidan P. O'Brien
Buzzword (GB), Godolphin, Saeed bin Suroor
Dave in Dixie, Dawn & Ike W. Thrash, John W. Sadler
D' Funnybone, Paul P. Pompa Jr., Richard E. Dutrow Jr.
Eskendereya, Zayat Stables, Todd A. Pletcher
Fist of Rage, Rayzin The Bar Thoroughbreds, Kenneth G. McPeek
Gallant Gent, Six-S Racing Stables, Robert Miller , Joe Valenti , Nicholas Petralia, Craig A. Lewis
Lookin At Lucky, Watson & Weitman Performance LLC, Michael E. Pegram, Bob Baffert
Mint Chip Green, Lantern Stables, George R. Arnold II
Noble's Promise, Chasing Dreams Racing 2008, Kenneth G. McPeek
Piscitelli, William C. Schettine, Gregory D. Sacco
Pounced, Lady Rothschild, John H.M. Gosden
Pulsion, Kona Stable, Michael Imperio , Kin Hui , Flying Zee Stables, Patrick L. Biancone
Radiohead (GB), IEAH Stables, Mrs. Carmen Burrell , Jonathan Harvey, Brian Meehan
Vale of York (IRE), Godolphin, Saeed bin Suroor
William's Kitten, Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey, Michael J. Maker
