Four grade or group I winners are among the 10 horses entered in the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) to be run at Keeneland Saturday.In addition, there are three grade II victors hoping to use the Turf Mile as a steppingstone to the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) Oct. 29 at Belmont Park.
Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel has entered two horses, including champion Australian filly Alinghi. The 4-year-old Aussie-bred filly was extremely impressive in her stateside debut, running past a nice field of fillies and mares in the Ballston Spa Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Saratoga. Alinghi won a grade I versus males in her native land. Edgar Prado returns to the saddle. Plans are for Alinghi to remain in the U.S. until next spring, when she will return Down Under to be bred to the Australian stallion Redoute's Choice.
Frankel also trains Juddmonte Farm's Three Valleys. Winner of the Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes (Eng-I) as a 2-year-old, the Kentucky-homebred son of Diesis won the Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) last month, indicating his sharpness. Three Valleys has an excellent turn of foot, and jockey Patrick Valenzuela will ride.
Mrs. John Magnier's Ad Valorem has made the journey across the Atlantic from Great Britain. Like Three Valleys, he won the Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes at 2. Third in the Canton Spreadfair Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) at Goodwood most recently, his trainer Aiden O'Brien enjoys excellent success shipping to America. Kieran Fallon will wear the dark blue colors.
If Stud Raca had kept Brazilian-bred Durban Thunder in the Americas, he would be undefeated. Winner of the GP J. Adhemar De Almeida Prado (Brz-I) in his native land, the son of Royal Academy's only defeat came in the UAE Derby (UAE-II) on World Cup Day at Nad al Sheba Racecourse. He rebounded to win an allowance race at Arlington Park and then won the Kentucky Cup Turf Dash at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 24 for trainer Helen Pitts. Mark Guidry will ride.
$600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT, race 9, 5:45 p.m.), 3 &up
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Seeking Answers (IRE), Jose Lezcano, 126, 20/1
2. Alinghi (AUS), Edgar Prado, 123, 7/2
3. Ad Valorem (KY), Kieren Fallon, 123, 4/1
4. Gulch Approval (KY), Norberto Arroyo, Jr., 126, 20/1
5. Three Valleys (KY), Patrick Valenzuela, 126, 3/1
6. Cool Conductor (KY), Cornelio Velasquez, 126, 8/1
7. Durban Thunder (BRZ), Mark Guidry, 126, 10/1
8. Host (CHI), Rafael Bejarano, 126, 5/1
9. Remind (KY), Brice Blanc, 126, 12/1
10. Vanderlin (GB), Richard Hughes, 126, 10/1
Ballston Spa BC 'Cap winner Alinghi goes in Keeneland's Shadwell.
