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There were no major surprises when a list of 13 pre-entered horses in the Breeders’ Cup Mile was revealed Wednesday. And that’s just fine. The matchup between Wise Dan and Excelebration alone makes the BC Mile must-see racing. Add to that intriguing inter-continental showdown the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom as well as top French filly Moonlight Cloud and the Mile should be memorable.
Among the 13 pre-entrants, Trailblazer and Turbo Compressor both have the Turf as their first preference, leaving a likely field of 11 for the Mile. Besides the aforementioned quartet, that group includes, Doubles Partner, Jeranimo, Little Mike, Mr. Commons, Obviously, Suggestive Boy, and Willcox Inn. Wise Dan, Excelebration, and Jeranimo all won Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In races. Obviously, the West Coast’s leading turf miler, was supplemented to the Mile for $100,000 after winning the Arroyo Seco Mile over the Santa Anita grass course.
Wise Dan and Point of Entry are the two best American turf horses of 2012, and Wise Dan can lay claim to being among the best turf horses in the world if he can handle Excelebration. Excelebration, a 4-year-old Aidan O’Brien trainee, has raced in the shadow of superstar Frankel for most of his career, but burst forth with his own sensational win last weekend when trouncing high-class foes in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. But Wise Dan should not be overmatched. He has won all three of his grass races this season, and those wins – the last two in Grade 1 stakes – have come by more than 10 lengths combined.
[BREEDERS' CUP 2012: Pre-entered fields with odds and comments]
There had long been speculation that Wise Dan’s connections would wind up at least cross-entering the horse in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but owner-breeder Mort Fink and trainer Charlie Lopresti stuck resolutely to their decision to go in the Mile. They also had to decide whether to race Wise Dan on Oct. 6 in the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland or start in the Mile without a race since the Sept. 16 Woodbine Mile, and Lopresti firmly believes that racing in the Shadwell was the right call.
“I’m very glad I did that,” Lopresti said Wednesday. “Unequivocally so. The horse bounced out of that race really good.”
By running instead of waiting, Wise Dan, Lopresti said, doesn’t need much work before going to Santa Anita. He breezed a swift five furlongs last weekend at his home base at Keeneland and won’t work again before the Mile. Lopresti said he’s flying to California on Monday in order to meet Wise Dan when the horse arrives Tuesday.Wise Dan arrives Tuesday, will probably walk Wednesday, gallop Thursday and Friday, and then go into the biggest race of his life – so far, at least.
A gelding, 5-year-old Wise Dan, with any luck, has plenty of racing left in him, and on a conference call Wednesday, Lopresti mentioned the Dubai World Cup as a possible post-Breeders’ Cup destination for the horse.
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This supefecta will be BALLONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Obviously is the now horse and is racing in his back yard, is you read all comments every one of tha fav. Dan, Excelebration all have alot of ifs, the only one flying under the radar is OObviously who only broke Del Mars Turf record and almost broke Santa Anitas turf record running a Blazing 1:32 and change WOW, good to see he will be overlooked by what I call sucker favorites. Obviously in track record time is your B.C. Mile winner.
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Can you shed any light on why a renowned Trainer like Aidan O'Brien constantly ship horses across the Atlantic on just two weeks rest? He does this year after year with very formful horses that have all failed on Breeders Cup day. This year he's bringing Excelebration in that same mode, and although I'm confident this horse is a class act, I believe Excelebration will serve only one purpose come November 3rd. He will either shoot Frankels stud prices thru the roof or he'll bring them down so low, even your's truly would be able to buy them. I believe it will be the latter....Why are they doing this!!? Or is that the purpose of his connections?
Not too many racing people are going to excuse a loss as the quick turnaround and the long trip. I do hope he pulls it off, because, were it not for Frankel, this horse would probably be showing a win record of 12 for 14; C-O-N-S-I-ST-E-N-C-Y?
I'll only use him in my bets sparingly just in case; but right now I feel for this horse.
Cornwallboy
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Moonlight Cloud is my hunch horse to be in exacta or trifecta. Very sharp at extended sprints, as was Goldikova. French, as was you-know-who. These so-called "stiff" Euro sprints (uneven ground, climbing part of the time, yielding turf course, etc.) translate well to the American grass mile, as long as they can turn left. She sort looks like the Goldi type - sleek - so there shouldn't be any reason she can't corner well. She will be mowing down horses late.
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Excelebration will only have two weeks since that big race, right? Not sure I like that. In the "old days,' I think the Arc was sometimes only a couple of weeks before the Breeder's Cup and the horses coming out of it had a hard time making that quick turnaround. Same probably goes for Ascot's Champions Day races, now.
Not sure I would have raced Wise Dan again after Woodbine, either, but suppose Lopresti knows what he's doing. At least Wise Dan will have four weeks.
But you know what? Jeranimo is a horse that can come up with a mighty effort every once in awhile. He's not consistent, but his occasional best is extremely powerful and fits with any of these.
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Excelebration has won over a mile at Cologne (which has a 3 furlong straight) and Longchamp. He has won twice on Good to Firm ground and finished only 4 lengths behind Frankel on Good to Firm. American ground is different though and while he is the classiest and best horse in the race, my main concern would be if the ground is very fast. He'll have no problem whatsoever with the turns.
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Moonlight cloud is near from goldikova, she has a short but tremendous acceleration, I think she'll like the track and her trainer know what it takes to win a BC mile...
On Pure class Exelebration is the best...
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Mr. Commons may cycle back to his best form ever in this spot.
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Has Excelebration gone around two turns like this one will be?? Aiden O'Brien or not, I think this is asking a bit much. He should've brought him over here early, get a race over the track for the experience (ground AND pace; we race differently over here {duh!}. He has never experienced the pace that this race will bring) like the Japanese Trailblazer did. He was flying at the end! That being said he just might hit the board, but I don't think he will win. As far as Dan goes, he's just become a brute since returning to turf. Have to check the odds though at race time. I think Obviously has a chance b/c he's a blur. My longshot pick though is the aforementioned Trailblazer in a shocker.
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Wise dan is the best horse in america bar none i think he is matched with excelebration but the thing in wise dans favor apart from the travel is the turf will be firm and firm in america excelebration will never had anything even close to that fast going and that could find him out over there, but it should be a great race love dan love excel may the best horse win
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MONCLOVA galloped out strongly after closing belatedly in her second trip postward May 26, from which the runner-up exited to graduate with a 68 Beyer. The daughter of Queen's Plate winner Niigon is bred to run long, and can break through with the stretchout from six and a half furlongs to a mile and a sixteenth. BE MIND PHIL is returning on short rest off a closing second in her debut, going a mile around one turn on the grass. She has a blend of speed and stamina in her pedigree.
