A total of 102 Kentucky-breds were entered in this year’s 41st Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, led by multiple Group 1 winner City of Troy and last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old Fierceness in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and Kentucky Oaks (G1) victress Thorpedo Annia in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Seeking Classic Glory
Four-time Group 1 winner City of Troy is the morning-line favorite at odds of 5-2 in the Classic. Campaigned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, City of Troy will be making his first start on a traditional dirt surface for trainer Aidan O’Brien. All of City of Troy’s victories have come on the turf in Europe. The son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify will be ridden by Ryan Moore.
“We always talk very highly of him,” said O’Brien, who has 18 Breeders’ Cup wins to his credit but is seeking his first Classic triumph after 17 previous attempts. “Obviously, he was by Justify, so there was always a big chance that he would (run well) on the dirt. He has a very brave heart, a very high cruising speed, tactically very quick. He was a horse we always dreamed about that maybe could be very competitive in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
Repole’s Stable’s Fierceness is the second choice on the morning-line at odds of 3-1. The Todd Pletcher trainee is fresh off a win in the Travers S. (G1), his third Grade 1 victory. His first Grade 1 was in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita en route to championship honors at season’s end.
“There’s never been a horse that has won a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and, as a 3-year-old, the Classic,” said Repole of the City of Light colt. “You’re talking about one of one. “Then he also has the brilliance of Uncle Mo, because when he’s right, he wins big.”
Distaff Goes Through Thorpedo Anna
Thorpedo Anna headlines the Distaff. A winner of four Grade 1 races during a sensational 3-year-old season, Thorpedo Anna was runner-up to Fireceness in the Travers Stakes. Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. for Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing, Thorpedo Anna enters the Distaff off a win in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing. She drew position No. 2.
“We always had high expectations for her after her 2-year-old year,” said McPeek. “But all the things that she’s been able to accomplish have been amazing. She just loves what she does every day. She really makes our job easy. And every horse trainer ought to get lucky enough to have a horse like her, because she’s the key to it all.”
Future Stars Friday
Highlighting the five Breeders’ Cup races on Future Stars Friday is the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), where Godolphin homebred East Avenue is the 5-2 morning-line favorite. Trained by Brendan Walsh, East Avenue will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. The son of Medaglia d’Oro is undefeated in two starts. He won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland by 5 ¼ lengths on Oct. 5. He broke his maiden at Ellis Park in his career debut.
Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photo Finish, Corms Racing Stable’s Scottish Lassie is the 502 morning-line choice for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Trained by Jorge Abreu, Scottish Lassie won the Frizette Stakes (G1) in her last start. She won that one-mile test by a widening nine lengths.