Ranking the Preps: Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
While prep season for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile produced a pair of clear-cut standouts in Grade 1 winners Vekoma and Complexity, only one of those 4-year-old colts appears likely to compete in the Dirt Mile around two turns at Keeneland Race Course on Nov. 7.
Vekoma owns fees-paid berths for both the Dirt Mile and Breeders' Cup Sprint via his wins in the Met Mile (G1) and seven-furlong Carter Handicap (G1), respectively. Both contested at Belmont Park around one turn, the pair of Grade 1 scores has the Candy Ride colt in prime position for an Eclipse Award as champion sprinter. As a presumed consequence, trainer George Weaver indicated this week the Sprint going six furlongs was more likely for Vekoma.
[Related: Ranking the Preps: Distaff, Sprint]
Complexity is possible for the Sprint as two-turn racing remains an unknown for the son of Maclean's Music. However, trainer Chad Brown indicated this week the Dirt Mile was more likely. Complexity is exiting a career-best effort winning the Kelso (G2) around one turn at Belmont Park, which can be viewed below.
In nine starts -- which includes five wins -- Complexity has navigated two turns just once: a 10th-place finish in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile after setting the early pace.
Below is a closer look at the best of this year's standard Dirt Mile preps to help rate the competition. However, particularly in this pandemic-stricken racing season, it's worth noting there are several live contenders not seen in the preps below. They include:
- Art Collector (4th) and Jesus' Team (3rd) from the Preakness (G1)
- 2019 Preakness winner War of Will, who will switch back to dirt following a third in the Woodbine Mile (G1) most recently
- Knicks Go, who came off the bench Oct. 4 and earned a 110 Brisnet Speed Rating with a scintillating Keeneland allowance win
- Sharp Samurai, a graded stakes winner on turf who was a good second to Maximum Security when trying dirt in the Aug. 22 Pacific Classic (G1)
- Rushie, winner of the Sept. 5 Pat Day Mile (G2) for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs, a race that came back light on speed figures.
Key Preps for Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
| Race | Date | Track | Winner | Brisnet | Beyer |
| Kelso | Oct. 3 | Belmont | Complexity | 109 | 110 |
| Met Mile | July 4 | Belmont | Vekoma | 103 | 104 |
| Salvator Mile | Sept. 20 | Monmouth | Pirate's Punch | 100 | 99 |
| Alysheba | Sept. 4 | Churchill Downs | By My Standards | 99 | 102 |
| San Diego | July 25 | Del Mar | Maximum Security | 99 | 101 |
| Ack Ack | Sept. 26 | Churchill Downs | Mr. Money | 96 | 94 |
1. Kelso Handicap (G2), Oct. 3, Belmont Park
Winner: Complexity
2nd: Code of Honor
3rd: Stan the Man
Final Time: 1:33.82
Complexity raced up close to the pace, took over approaching the quarter pole and had no problem fending off Grade 1 winner Code of Honor in the stretch to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Complexity has rising speed figures in three starts following a six-month layoff, and while unproven around two turns, could go favored in the Dirt Mile off this effort.
Code of Honor is skipping the Breeders' Cup and Stan the Man is not under consideration.
2. Metropolitan Handicap (G1), July 4, Belmont Park
Winner: Vekoma
2nd: Network Effect
3rd: Code of Honor
Final Time: 1:32.88
Vekoma broke in front under Javier Castellano, took a measured lead into the stretch and dug in late to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths and earn a second straight Grade 1 win. Vekoma has one previous start at Keeneland -- a win in last year's Blue Grass (G2) going 1 1/8 miles.
Network Effect shows no works since this effort for trainer Chad Brown and will not run in the Breeders' Cup.
3. Salvator Mile (G3), Sept. 20, Monmouth Park
Winner: Pirate's Punch
2nd: Top Line Growth
3rd: Bal Harbour
Final Time: 1:37.19
After earning a first graded stakes win in Monmouth's Iselin (G3) with a career-best speed figure a month earlier, Pirate's Punch impressed again here when making a bold move on the far turn and then opening up in the stretch to coast home an easy two-length winner. While you can question who he beat, the speed figures for this effort again came back competitive.
Top Line Growth and Bal Harbour will not run in the Breeders' Cup.
4. Alysheba Stakes (G2), Sept. 4, Churchill Downs
Winner: By My Standards
2nd: Owendale
3rd: Silver Dust
Final Time: 1:42.24
Possible Dirt Mile contender Mr Freeze got away with moderate fractions on the lead (25.71, 49.93) in this 1 1/16-miles event before being overwhelmed by Classic hopeful By My Standards and Owendale at the top of the stretch. Silver Dust, who had also sat off the pace, did well to range up and battle with the top two in the stretch while ultimately beaten 1 3/4 lengths.
While Mr Freeze disappointed, he did return to win the 1 1/8-miles Fayette (G2) at Keeneland on Oct. 10 and is possible for either the Dirt Mile or Classic.
5. San Diego Handicap (G2), July 25, Del Mar
Winner: Maximum Security
2nd: Midcourt
3rd: Higher Power
Final Time: 1:44.54
After Maximum Security broke on top, jockey Victor Espinoza coaxed Midcourt to the lead on the first turn and they held that position until deep stretch when champion Maximum Security made a late bid to get up by a nose.
Trainer John Shirreffs is considering either the Dirt Mile or Classic for Midcourt, who followed the San Diego with thirds in both the Pacific Classic (G1) won by Maximum Security and Awesome Again (G2) won by Improbable.
6. Ack Ack Stakes (G3), Sept. 26, Churchill Downs
Winner: Mr. Money
2nd: Bourbon Calling
3rd: Thirst For Life
Final Time: 1:34.85
Mr. Money sat in the pocket while stalking the pace along the rail in this one-turn mile, slipped through on the inside at the top of the stretch and comfortably held off a late cavalry charge to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
The 4-year-old Mr. Money will look to improve on a seventh-place in last year's Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park.