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Breeders Cup Rankings - Nov 7th Races Part I

Bookmark and Share by D.S. Williamson

With less than two weeks to go before the Breeders’ Cup, it’s time to come out with rankings for each race.

We’ll take a look at the races on Nov. 7th, the second day of the Breeders’ Cup.  The male juvenile races are on this day as well as the Breeders’ Cup Classic, America’s most important race. 

Breeders’ Cup Power Rankings - - Nov. 7th Races

** Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

** Based on Prospective Entrants

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

  1. Interactif - - Todd Pletcher has another tough 2 year old in his stable.  This colt’s victory in the Grade III Bourbon stakes over 1 1/16th miles over yielding turf was absolutely sensational as he had to circle the field and still won by a full length.  He’s going to be a seriously tough fella to handle in this race.

  1. Joshua Tree - - This son of Montjeu comes out of the ultra-tough Aidan O’Brien barn.  Bought for $659,000, Joshua Tree is 2 and 1 out of 3 races including a victory in a Grade II at the Ascott meet in his last.  He’s also named after one of the greatest albums of all time.  Gotta love him just for that!

  1. Eskendereya - - This son of Giant’s Causeway lost by 1 ¼ lengths in his maiden race and then came back and won a $150,000 non-graded stakes by 7 ¼ lengths.  He’s yet another out of the Pletcher barn which means that he could improve big time in this race and the odds should be absolutely amazing.

  1. Viscount Nelson - - It’s O’Brien’s or Pletcher’s race to lose as Aidan gets another one onto the list.  Viscount Nelson finished second in the Grade II Champagne Stakes and should be better in this race stretching out from 7 furlongs to this 1 and 1/16th mile distance.  He’s got the goods to pull of a slight upset.

  1. Pounced - - Trainer John Gosden would be taking a shot with this son of Rahy, but why not?  In his last race, Pounced finished second in the Grade II Grand Criterium. 

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

  1. Silver Timber - - The Chad Brown trainee is 3 and 1 out of his last 4 races, including a victory at 5 ½ in the Grade II Wofford, and figures to be even tougher at 6 ½ furlongs.  He’s going about as well as a horse could be going leading up to a Breeders’ Cup race.

  1. Total Gallery - - This Grade I winner at 5 furlongs should have no issues at 6 ½ furlongs either.  He’s 5 and 4 out of 14 lifetime races and figures to outclass most of this field.  He’ll be tough.

  1. King’s Apostle - - Yet another European Grade I winner who figures to do some damage down the hill.  King’s Apostle has won over $500,000 and could easily upset this field with the right trip. 

  1. Gotta Have Her - - Santa Anita’s horse for course is 5-1-2 out of 9 lifetime races down the hill, loves the 6 ½ furlong distance and has won 2 in a row.  What’s not to like?  Not much as she figures to go off at big odds again in this race facing males.


  1. Fleeting Spirit - - 5-5-1 out of 13 lifetime races is a terrific race.  She finished 4th as the favorite in the 2008 version of this race and no doubt could turn the tables on her competition in this.  Fleeting Spirit is a terrific horse and has been better in 2009 than she was in 2008 coming up to this race.

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

  1. Midshipman - - If the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Champion starts in this race, then he’s likely to be the favorite.  He’s had success at 6 furlongs to 1 mile and looked awesome in his prep at Belmont.  He will be tough in this facing horses that just aren’t as classy as he is. 

  1. Girolamo - - Suroor has another top contender, should he enter him, in the Dirt Mile with Girolamo who has won three in a row, each by at least a length and is out of A.P. Indy.  Should Suroor opt for the Classic, then keep this fella in mind.  He’s got a huge upside to him.

  1. Kensei - - The Steve Asmussen son of Mr. Greeley isn’t good enough to try the Breeders’ Cup Classic but could easily do some damage in this race.  He has the speed to stick with the front-runners but doesn’t have to go for the lead right out of the gate and Asmussen no doubt should have him keyed up.  If he makes the gate, he deserves consideration.

  1. Gone Astray - - It’s hard to look past this Claude McGaughey trainee that has won his last two races by 11 ½ lengths.  He finished second in his two races before that which means he’s in amazing form.  If he can transfer his dirt form the Pro-Ride, then he too deserves some consideration from horseplayers at what almost assuredly will be big odds.

  1. Chocolate Candy - - Maybe he’s just a miler.  He has gone 1 and 2 out of 3 at the distance.  Candy always puts in a good run, but after failing in his last 5 races there’s some doubt as to how talented he really is.  Still, his closing style could help him in a race that might come up with a lot of speed.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

  1. Homeboykris - - Richard Dutrow saddled him for the first time in the Grade I Champagne at Belmont Park and look what happened?  A victory by 1 ½ lengths with a big speed rating.  Dutrow is an amazing trainer and this guy comes out of Roman Ruler whose daddy was a fella named Fusaichi Pegasus.  Expect more improvement in the Juvenile which would make him scary indeed.

  2. Beethoven - - There’s that guy again, Aidan O’Brien.  He’s a Grade I winner on turf and O’Brien showed last year with Henrythnavigator that she could get a horse to transfer turf form to the Pro-Ride when Navigator finished 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  This guy is a solid bet to upset the apple cart in the Juvenile.

  3. American Lion - - From a maiden victory to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Champion?  Usually, I would say no, but when you break your maiden with a big speed rating on the Polytrack at Keeneland on the lead, your sired by Tiznow, and your trainer is Eoin Harty, I have to give you a shot.

  4. Lookin’ At Lucky - - There is nothing to dislike about Lookin’ At Lucky except the fact that he might be a big favorite in this race.  He’s out of Smart Strike, was purchased for close to $500,000, is trained by Bob Baffert and is undefeated.  He also won the Grade I Norfolk at this distance and on this track in his last. 

  5. Noble’s Promise - - The Ken McPeek trainee is one tough fella.  After finishing second in his first lifetime race, Noble’s Promise has reeled off 3 victories in a row including a terrific win stretching out to 1 1/16th miles in the Grade I Breeders’ Futurity on Keeneland’s Polytrack in his last.  He’s got a shot.