Stars Aplenty Expected for Remainder of Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Card

While the Classic, Distaff, Mile and Turf will rightfully garner the majority of the Saturday headlines, the other five Breeders’ Cup races will be filled the very best equine talent, with several championships lying in the balance.

The Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, run at 1 3/8 miles, is expected to be led by Peter Brant’s divisional leader SISTERCHARLIE (IRE), who qualified for the race when she won Arlington Park’s “Win and You’re In” Beverly D. (GI) August 11 for trainer Chad Brown, who could also start FOURSTAR CROOK and SANTA MONICA (GB). Sunderland Holdings’ SEA OF CLASS (IRE) won the “Win and You’re In” Darley Yorkshire Oaks (GI) August 23 at York to gain an entry for trainer William Haggas and rates the best of a European contingent that could also include EZIYRA (IRE), MAGIC WAND (IRE) and WILD ILLUSION (GB).

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The one-turn Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile is shaping up as a tremendous race, as Hronis Racing’s CATALINA CRUISER, who earned a berth into the race when he won Del Mar’s “Win and You’re In” Pat O’Brien (GII) August 25 for trainer John Sadler and has won his four career starts by 18 ½ lengths, rates as one of the most talented horses in training. Waiting in the wings is multiple Grade I winner CITY OF LIGHT and the undefeated ARMY MULE, on the comeback trail after suffering a minor injury shortly after winning Aqueduct’s Carter (GI) by 6 ¼ lengths April 7. Defending Dirt Mile winner BATTLE OF MIDWAY made his return from retirement and was second in the Pat O’Brien and is also pointing to the race.

The six-furlong TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint is expected to be led by Ray Mamone’s IMPERIAL HINT, who aired in Saratoga’s Alfred Vanderbilt (GI) July 28 for trainer Luis Carvajal, while LIMOUSINE LIBERAL and RANSOM THE MOON qualified for the race with wins in this summer’s “Win and You’re In” Belmont Sprint Championship (GII) and “Win and You’re In” Del Mar’s Bing Crosby (GI), respectively. Defending Sprint winner ROY H is also expected, as are Grade I winners PROMISES FULFILLED and WHITMORE and multiple graded stakes winner X Y JET.

The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, run at seven furlongs, looks to have a solid favorite in Cicero Farm’s MARLEY’S FREEDOM, who earned a berth into the race with her win in Saratoga’s “Win and You’re In” Ballerina (GI) August 25 for trainer Bob Baffert. STORMY EMBRACE earned a berth into the race in the “Win and You’re In” Princess Rooney (GII) in June, while multiple graded stakes winners AMERICAN GAL, FINLEY’SLUCKYCHARM, LEWIS BAY and MIA MISCHIEF are also pointing to the race.

The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, run at five furlongs, is expected to draw a deep field, with Patricia Generazio’s homebred DISCO PARTNER, who qualified for the race when he won Belmont’s “Win and You’re In” Jaipur (GII) in June for trainer Christophe Clement, looking to better his third-place run in last year’s renewal at Del Mar. Defending champion STORMY LIBERAL headlines the rest of an American contingent that could also include BELVOIR BAY (GB), BUCCHERO, LADY ALEXANDRA, PURE SENSATION, and VISION PERFECT, while the Europeans could send BLUE POINT (IRE), CORINTHIAN KNIGHT (IRE), EL ASTRONAUTE (IRE).

Source: Breeders’ Cup