2021 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Weekend prep races could bring field into focus
Races this Saturday in California, Kentucky, and New York should help shape the final field for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, which at present figures to come up long on quality but short on quantity, headed as it is by in-form runners such as the brilliant Life Is Good, Met Mile winner Silver State, and Del Mar terror Ginobili.
The most obvious prep is the Ack Ack, a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs that includes Rushie, winner of the Pat Day Mile there 55 weeks ago.
More, though, could emerge from the Woodward at Belmont, the Awesome Again at Santa Anita, and the Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs. Those are all 1 1/8-mile races that include horses who might be better suited by cutting back in distance five weeks hence than pressing on toward the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic, which, like the Dirt Mile, is Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
The Woodward lured Art Collector and Forza Di Oro, both of whom have yet to prove they want 1 1/4 miles. They might not want any part of Life Is Good either, but the Dirt Mile might be a better long-term option than trying 10 furlongs against the likes of Essential Quality, Hot Rod Charlie, and Knicks Go, among others.
Similarly, Independence Hall, who runs in the Lukas Classic against Knicks Go, has given every indication that 1 1/4 miles is too far for him. While the Dirt Mile might be the preferred Breeders’ Cup option for him, he is owned in part by WinStar Farm, which also co-owns Life Is Good. Because of that, a potential move with Independence Hall could be to bypass the Breeders’ Cup, remain at Churchill Downs, and seek the Grade 1 win his connections desire as a marketing tool for him as a stallion in the Clark in late November, or even the Cigar Mile in early December at Aqueduct.
Another potential Dirt Mile runner who may get rerouted to the Cigar Mile is Parx Dirt Mile winner Mind Control, who, like Life Is Good, is trained by Todd Pletcher.
The uncertain Dirt Mile status of so many horses who have the credentials to run in the race is one reason the likely field figures to come up small. Just as significant, though, is the current form of Life Is Good, who breezed home in the Kelso last Saturday at Belmont; Silver State, who was an unlucky loser in the Parx Dirt Mile last Saturday but fires every time; and Ginobili, who ran two freakishly strong races during the summer at Del Mar and is being shrewdly managed to come into the Dirt Mile fresh.
Silver State, in the Met Mile, and Ginobili, via the Pat O’Brien, won the two Win and You’re In races for the Dirt Mile.
The Dirt Mile is a two-turn race at Del Mar. Its only prior running at Del Mar was won by Battle of Midway, who bested nine rivals. This year’s winner figures to have less competition.
– additional reporting by David Grening