Grand Arch looks for Shadwell Turf Mile repeat against strong cast
Susan and Jim Hill’s Grand Arch will try to become the third back-to-back winner of the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) when he takes on 10 rivals in Saturday’s 31st running of the race. The Shadwell Turf Mile is one of three Grade 1 races Saturday afternoon on a 10-race program that features two other graded stakes.
The Shadwell Turf Mile, the third of three Grade 1 races on Saturday, is the afternoon’s ninth race with a 5:45 p.m. ET post time. First post time that day is 1:05 p.m.
The race is a “Win and You’re In” challenge race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) to be run Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.
NBC will present live coverage of the Shadwell Turf Mile and the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) as part of a 5-6 p.m. telecast called the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In Series presented by Lane’s End Farm and America’s Best Racing.”
Trained by Brian Lynch, Grand Arch is winless in three starts in 2016. He is coming off a third-place finish in the Fourstardave (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 20. Luis Saez has the mount and will break from post position five.
Grand Arch will attempt to join the other consecutive winners of the Shadwell Turf Mile: Gio Ponti (2010-2011) and Dumaani (1995-1996).
Chief among Grand Arch’s rivals is Geoff and Sandra Turnbull’s Mondialiste (IRE) and The Club Racing, Allen Rosenblum and Sagamore Farm’s Miss Temple City.
Trained by David O’Meara, Mondialiste returns to Keeneland where he finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile in which he finished 1½ lengths in front of Grand Arch. Winner of the Arlington Million (G1) in his most recent start, Mondialiste will be ridden by Danny Tudhope and break from post position four.
Trained by Graham Motion, Miss Temple City became the first filly to win the Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) here this spring. Fifth in the Ballston Spa (G2) at Saratoga in her most recent start, Miss Temple City will be ridden by Edgar Prado and break from post position seven.
Three other Grade 1 winners are in the race that produced next-out Breeders’ Cup Mile winners Wise Dan (2012-2013) and Steinlen (GB) (1989). Included in the trio are the past two winners of the Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita, Ring Weekend (2015) and What a View (2016), as well as Fourstardave winner Tourist.
The field for the Shadwell Turf Mile with riders and weights from the rail out is: Triple Threat (FR) (Paco Lopez, 126 pounds), Pleuven (FR) (Corey Lanerie, 126), Tower of Texas (Julien Leparoux, 126), Mondialiste (IRE) (Tudhope, 126), Grand Arch (Saez, 126), Kasaqui (ARG) (Robby Albarado, 126), Miss Temple City (Prado, 123), Ironicus (Jose Ortiz, 126), Ring Weekend (Junior Alvarado, 126), Tourist (Jose Lezcano, 126) and What a View (Kent Desormeaux, 126).
Source: Keeneland Association