2021 Breeders' Cup Turf: Trainer O'Brien holds key to lineup
The field for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar may not be finalized until scratch time on the race morning, and will depend on decisions by Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien and the powerful Coolmore syndicate that 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 of whom are Grade 1 or Group 1 winners.
When pre-entries for this year’s BC Turf were announced on Wednesday, 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 may start in that race, O’Brien said Wednesday.
Without Love in the BC Turf, the 5-year-old Japan would join the list of 14 runners.
The next opportunity for O’Brien to have an additional starter depends on whether the Japanese-bred mare Loves Only You starts in the Turf or Filly and Mare Turf. If Loves Only You starts in the Filly and Mare Turf, O’Brien has the next two runners on the list of candidates for the Turf in the 5-year-old horse Broome and 3-year-old colt Bolshoi Ballet.
All of O’Brien's 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.
They could be among as many as four also-eligibles to the field when entries are taken on Monday.