Arc also-rans could provide insight for BC Turf
ARCADIA, Calif. – When the field reaches deep stretch in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris, racing fans seeking clues for the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 may be best served by watching the also-rans.
In the last 15 years, only one Arc winner has started in the BC Turf – Dylan Thomas, who finished seventh at Monmouth Park in 2007. In that 15-year span, most Arc winners do not start again in the months following that race, although three have gone on to finish fourth or worse in the Japan Cup. Sakhee won the 2001 Arc and was a game second to Tiznow in the BC Classic at Belmont Park. Workforce won the 2010 Arc but was scratched from the BC Turf at Churchill Downs because of firm conditions.
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In that same 15-year span, 18 horses have finished between third and 16th in the Arc and started in the BC Turf about a month later, including five winners of six Turf renewals – Daylami in 1999, High Chaparral in 2002 and 2003, Shirocco in 2005, Conduit in 2009, and St Nicholas Abbey in 2011.
Last year, none of the 16 horses who finished behind Treve in the Arc ran in the BC Turf, the first time that happened since 2004. In 2004, the 3-year-old filly Ouija Board was third in the Arc and won the BC Filly and Mare Turf at Lone Star Park.
This year’s Arc field includes the outsider Flintshire, who is considered an early candidate for the BC Turf. As of Wednesday, the Arc lacked a clear favorite, with a trio of 3-year-olds – the colt Ectot and the fillies Avenir Certain and Taghrooda – at the head of the list. Treve, winless in three starts this year, is considered a 10-1 chance.
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Flintshire is trained by Andre Fabre, who has won two runnings of the BC Turf, most recently in 2005 with Shirocco, who finished fourth in that year’s Arc.
Finnegans Wake to take a shot
Finnegans Wake, second in the $201,000 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita last Sunday, will start in the BC Turf, trainer Peter Miller said Tuesday.
Finnegans Wake closed from eighth in a field of nine to finish three-quarters of a length behind the winner, Bright Thought, another candidate for the BC Turf. A 5-year-old horse by Powerscourt, Finnegans Wake has won 3 of 23 starts and earned $675,375.
The John Henry Turf Championship was Finnegans Wake’s first start for Miller. The horse was previously trained by Dale Romans when he won the first stakes of his career in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap in July. Finnegans Wake was later fifth in the Grade 1 Arlington Million at Arlington Park on Aug. 16.
Miller acknowledged that Finnegans Wake will be an outsider in the BC Turf but said the race is worth a try.
“He’s going to have to run his best race,” Miller said.