Well Armed Tops Main Track Mile

Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) winner Well Armed, trained by Eoin Harty for WinStar Farms, was installed the 3-1 morning-line  favorite for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, which will be run over the Pro-Ride artificial surface on the main World Championship card Oct. 25.

The son of Tiznow  has won six of 19 starts and earned $1,530,803. In addition to the Goodwood, Well Armed won the grade II San Diego Handicap and finished second in the San Pasqual (gr. II) and Pacific Classic (gr. I). In his only start at a mile, Well Armed was unplaced.

The 4-1 second choice is Albertus Maximus , the Goodwood third-place finisher who has won four of 14 career starts. Trained by Vladimir Cerin, Albertus Maximus  won the Windy Sands at Del Mar in his only mile start on the main track.

Listed at 5-1 in the morning line is Lewis Michael , a 5-year-old son of Rahy has two wins and two seconds in four starts at a mile. Trained by Wayne Catalano, Lewis Michael has not started since Aug. 24 when he won the Pat O'Brien (gr. II) at Del Mar.

Mast Track, the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) winner who was pre-entered in two Breeders’ Cup World Championship races, is listed as the 6-1 co-fourth choice in the field. Mast Track had been expected to be among the early pacesetters in the Classic, for which he was pre-entered, but trainer Bobby Frankel opted for the Dirt Mile. Frankel, who also owns and bred the son of Mizzen Mast , reported Oct. 20 that Mast Track had developed a slight quarter crack that could jeopardize his ability to run in either race. From a dozen starts, Mast Track has five wins, two seconds, and a third while earning $734,622. He won the Hollywood Gold Cup before finishing third in the grade I Pacific Classic. Most recently, he dueled for the early lead before fading to finish eighth of 10, 4 3/4 lengths behind winner Well Armed, in the Goodwood. In two starts at a mile, he has a win and and a second.

Millionaire Pyro, another colt pre-entered in two races including the 1 1/4-mile Classic, will also compete in the Mile after trainer Steve Asmussen opted for the shorter race. The winner of four of 12 starts, including the grade II Louisiana Derby, Pyro finished second in last year’s Champagne Stakes (gr. I) in his only start at a mile. The son of Pulpit comes into the Cup off a second place finish in the Jim Dandy (gr. II), a third in the Travers (gr. I) and a second in the Indiana Derby (gr. II). He will be ridden by regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan.