Can Bittel Road Roll in Juvenile Turf?

Bittel Road, three-for-three to start his career, looms a major contender as he seeks to keep his record intact in the $1-million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT), which lured a field of 12.

Owned by James Scatuorchio and John Iracane, Bittell Road appeared beaten as the even-money favorite Oct. 5 in the Bourbon Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland but roared home from far back in the lane to win going away by a head. The Kentucky-bred colt by Stormy Atlantic  out of the Sultry Song mare Sultry Sal is versatile, however; he won his career debut at six furlongs on the grass is wire-to-wire fashion after quick splits.

All three of the colt’s starts have come on firm turf, and the Santa Anita course is expected to be firm Oct. 25 for the Juvenile Turf. John Velazquez, who rode the colt in his first two starts, is named to ride for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Bittel Road is the 7-2 morning-line favorite. He’s followed by Coronet of a Baron, who just missed winning the grade I Del Mar Futurity, at 9-2, and two 5-1 shots: Grand Adventure, two-for-two on the turf at Woodbine, and Westphalia, who won a group II stakes in England in his last start.

Darley Stables’ Coronet of a Baron is an intriguing starter in that he will make his first start on the turf; his only three starts have come on the synthetic Polytrack surface. Trained by Eoin Harty, the Pure Prize colt will go two turns for the first time but could enjoy the grass.

Grand Adventure won the one-mile Summer Stakes (Can-IIIT) in his last start at Woodbine. He finished a head in front of Skipadate, who broke his maiden on the turf at Saratoga and is two heads shy of being undefeated in three starts.

The Juvenile Turf was run for the first time last year, when the Breeders’ Cup World Championships was expanded to two days. The race was written for males and females at host site Monmouth Park, but this year, the 2-year-old fillies will have their own race—the $1-million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at one mile.