Prospect Watch: Focus on overseas Breeders' Cup babies
Everyone is familiar with the big-name 2-year-olds set to compete Friday at the Breeders' Cup. Those like Dennis’ Moment, Eight Rings, Bast and Wicked Whisper have received plenty of press from writers and handicappers eager to expound on their obvious virtues.
But the Breeders’ Cup is an international event, with horses shipping in from around the globe to compete for rich prizes. What do we make of the numerous young runners traveling from abroad to contest the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf?
Watching race replays and digging into international ratings from Timeform and Racing Post are a couple of ways to analyze these unfamiliar juveniles. But pedigrees can also provide clues to racing prowess, and a handful of the international shippers entered in the Breeders’ Cup are bringing particularly classy pedigrees to the fold.
Let’s analyze these half-dozen youngsters with an emphasis on their breeding:
#13 Fort Myers
Although he’s being overshadowed by his more heralded stablemate Arizona, Fort Myers has shown promise and has the pedigree to be a high-class runner. A son of acclaimed stallion War Front, Fort Myers is the second foal out of Marvelous, a daughter of European superstar sire Galileo. Marvelous was an Irish classic winner, nabbing the 2014 Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1) at the Curragh. While Fort Myers has yet to follow in her footsteps as a group stakes winner, he’s 2-for-2 racing around left-handed courses and might out-run expectations at Santa Anita.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
#3 Shadn
A Group 2 winner sprinting six furlongs over soft turf in France, Shadn has likely inherited speed from her sire, 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner-up No Nay Never. She may have also received some early foot from her dam, Amethyst, a daughter of Sadler’s Wells who stretched her speed just far enough to finish second in the 1997 Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1) going a mile. Can Shadn one-up her dam and stay the full distance of the Juvenile Fillies Turf? Her pedigree is iffy, but at least Shadn should be set for a ground-saving trip from post three.
#6 Unforgetable
While Unforgetable hasn’t yet lived up to her name on track, she showed some early promising finishing second in the Silver Flash Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown and was recently beaten just 1 ¼ lengths by just-mentioned Fort Myers in the Star Appeal Stakes at Dundalk. From the first crop of four-time Group 1-winning sprinter Muhaarar, Unforgetable is a half-sister to Libranno, a tough-as-nails sprinter who won six group stakes races during his long career. Another half-sibling, Al Muthana, was Group 3-placed sprinting six furlongs. Unforgetable’s pedigree is unquestionably speed-oriented, so the one-mile distance of the Juvenile Fillies Turf could be stretching the limits of her stamina. But from a class perspective, there’s plenty to like about her breeding.
#9 Albigna
Remember Freedonia? As a 4-year-old filly in 2006, she won the Prix de Pomone (G2) in France before shipping to the U.S. and finishing second behind English Channel in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1). Now a broodmare, her daughter Albigna has already exceeded her dam by winning the one-mile Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) in France, securing the Group 1 victory Freedonia was never able to land. Albigna’s easy 2 ½-length score has stamped the daughter of Zoffany as the 9-2 morning line favorite for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, in which she’ll attempt to emulate 2012 winner Flotilla in using the Prix Marcel Boussac as a springboard to success at Santa Anita.
#14 Etoile
Winner of the Sprint Stakes (G3) at Naas in her first career start, Etoile misfired when facing tougher company in the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) at Newmarket, but has the pedigree to improve for trainer Aidan O’Brien. A daughter of War Front, Etoile’s dam is Gagnoa, who placed three times at the Group 1 level as a sophomore in 2008, most notably finishing second behind superstar Zarkova in the 1 ¼-mile Prix de Diane (G1) in France. Even if you’re not inclined to bet Etoile on the basis of her pedigree, you should at least respect the fact she’ll be ridden by acclaimed jockey Frankie Dettori, who has 14 Breeders’ Cup triumphs to his credit.
#8 Full Flat
It might be easy to overlook Full Flat considering he’s shipping in from Japan with unfamiliar form on grass, but from a pedigree perspective, this $250,000 yearling purchase might be worth considering. His form in Japan isn’t terrible — he led all the way to win a six-furlong dash by 2 ¼ lengths in his lone start on firm turf. A son of champion sprinter Speightstown out of a mare by Grade 1 winner and noted stamina influence Medaglia d’Oro, Full Flat is bred to show his best on the main track and might outrun expectations in his dirt debut.