Six Great Matchups We Could See in 2015

With the recent Shared Belief/California Chrome match in the San Antonio, racing fans are realizing the potential rivalries they could see be settled in the new racing season. Here are six of the best possible matchups we could see before the Breeder’s Cup:

1 California Chrome vs. Tonalist in the G2 Suburban @ Belmont

California Chrome, your reigning horse of the year, shows up on Tonalist’s home turf where he was handed defeat in the Belmont. While Tonalist is given the home field advantage, Chrome would return to the ten furlong distance he excels at.

While years ago the Suburban was regarded as one of the most prestigious races of the year, it is no longer given this designation. With both California Chrome and Tonalist targeting Dubai and therefore likely returning to the races later in the year, this could be their second start back - unless Chrome favors the Gold Cup at Santa Anita, often run just a week later.

2 Main Sequence vs. Twilight Eclipse in the G2 McDiarmida @ Gulfstream

Main Sequence was a clear Champion Turf Male, and is expected to begin another championship year this year while starting the year off in the Mac Diarmida. Last year he put Twilight Eclipse away in each of his four G1 wins, including his third one where he fouled him, but none of those wins came at Gulfstream Park, where Twilight Eclipse is a very different horse - the kind that set a world record for twelve furlongs and won this race last year.

3 American Pharoah vs. Carpe Diem in the G2 Rebel Stakes @ Oaklawn

Dual G1 winner American Pharoah showed his dominance against the crop in a way that has been lacking, but then was absent from the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile due to injury. Carpe Diem, his east-coast foe, is also pointing to the race for his season debut. Whomever wins the race is very likely to be the early Kentucky Derby favorite.

4 Toast of New York vs. Shared Belief in the G1 Pacific Classic @ Del Mar

With the Pacific Classic on dirt for the first time in what feels like a long time, Shared Belief and Toast of New York - who have both shown phenomenal dirt form after being pegged synthetic specialists - look to both be targeting this race. Having faced each other twice with each beating the other once, this looks like a matchup where Shared Belief has the potential to get beat at home.

5 Sahara Sky vs. Salutos Amigos in the G1 Carter @ Aqueduct

Absent since running below par last year until he worked this weekend, Sahara Sky at one time was a feared sprinter in the East. While the talented Cross Traffic couldn’t hold him off in the Met Mile, it was a different story in the Carter. Still searching for a win in the race, he could run into Salutos Amigos, who has never been defeated at Aqueduct, on both the inner and outer dirt. At the seven furlong distance, this matchup lies a little too long for Salutos Amigos and a little too short for Sahara Sky.

6 Bobby’s Kitten vs. Hootenanny in the G3 Woodford @ Keeneland

Find the horses who ran fastest over the turf last year at the Breeders Cup, and you come up with Juvenile Turf winner Hootenanny and Turf Sprint winner Bobby’s Kitten. While Bobby’s Kitten is not expected to hit the races until April and Hootenanny is targeting a run abroad in the English 2000 Guineas, both should be back to square off at Keeneland in the fall. The up and comer vs the reigning champ in an all out battle that could continue in the Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint this fall, might also lead to the winner preparing for a trip to face the world at Meydan in 2016.

Written by Colin K./Sullivan