2021 Breeders' Cup Turf: O'Brien weighing his options

DEL MAR, Calif. – The field for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar may not be finalized until scratch time on race morning, and will depend on decisions made by Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien and the powerful Coolmore syndicate, which owns all or part of five pre-entrants.

O’Brien has won the BC Turf a record six times, and has had a constant presence in the race since 2011. This year, O’Brien pre-entered Bolshoi Ballet, Broome, Japan, Love, and Mogul, all Grade 1 or Group 1 winners.

When pre-entries for this year’s BC Turf were announced on Oct. 27, the 4-year-old filly Love was the only one of O’Brien’s candidates assured of a spot in the 14-horse field among 22 pre-entrants.

Love was cross-entered in the Filly and Mare Turf and is expected to start in that race.

Without Love in the BC Turf, the 5-year-old Japan would join the list of 14 runners.

Monday, O’Brien caught a break when Loves Only You was entered in the Filly and Mare Turf and not the Turf, according to Breeders’ Cup officials. The decision puts the 5-year-old horse Broome among the 14 for the Turf, and leaves the 3-year-old colt Bolshoi Ballet as the first alternate.

Channel Maker, third in the 2020 BC Turf but winless in five starts this year, all for trainer Bill Mott, will become the second alternate. But Mott was skeptical that two defections would occur and allow Channel Maker to make the Turf field as of Monday.

“I don’t think he’ll be running,” he said. “We’ll enter and we have to see if we can get in.”

Channel Maker may remain at Del Mar for the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles on Nov. 26, Mott said.

All of O’Brien runners were shipped from Ireland to California, according to Breeders’ Cup officials, which gives the stable an opportunity to select starters as late as possible.