Breeders' Cup Buzz Horse: #8 Havana

 

Breeding: Dunkirk - Missy Turtle (Kyle's Our Man)

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owner: Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, & Derrick Smith

Breeder:  Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stable LLC

 

 

*Timeform Master Rating: 122p

Most Impressive Prep Race: Grade 1 Champagne, Belmont, Oct. 5 2013

**TimeformUS Speed Figure earned: 110

 

 

Analysis of key prep (Grade 1 Champagne): Breaking from a tough inside post position in a race with numerous other speed horses, Havana's hand was forced and he pressed a ruthlessly fast early pace set by the accomplished three-time stakes winning sprinter Debt Ceiling. 

The TimeformUS pace figures were 128 for a quarter, 126 for a half, and 117 for six furlongs. By comparison, the Grade 1 Frizette was run at the same distance just 30 minutes earlier, and the pace figures for that race were 74 for the quarter,  80 for the half mile, and 88 for six furlongs.

Havana not only courageously survived this hot pace in the Champagne Stakes, he opened up boldly off the turn and survived the stretch-running bid of the highly touted Honor Code. To emphasize how much the hot pace was a factor, Debt Ceiling stopped to a virtual walk in the stretch. Even Grand Arrival, who stalked the early pace from third position, ended up finishing next to last, staggering home to a 21 length defeat. Havana proved a heroic Grade 1 winner in just his second career start.

 

#10 Vorda (FR)

#9 My Conquestadory  

 

For Breeders’ Cup Advance Past Performances – complete with best-in-class foreign running lines and European and North American speed figures on the same scale – and expert selections and analysis, get the TimeformUS Breeders’ Cup Package. 

 

**In TimeformUS past performances, neither the Timeform Performance Ratings nor the TimeformUS Speed Figures are adjusted for age.