Ashleyluvssugar likely to show speed in Breeders' Cup Turf

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ashleyluvssugar, the dominant turf marathoner in Southern California in recent months, may play a vital role in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

In a race without a confirmed front-runner, Ashleyluvssugar could set the pace in the race at 1 1/2 miles.

“It wouldn’t be a problem as long as he’s running easily,” trainer Peter Eurton said.

Ashleyluvssugar won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 20, earning a fees-paid berth in the BC Turf. In his latest start, Ashleyluvssugar won the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship on Oct. 2.

On Saturday at Santa Anita, Ashleyluvssugar worked five furlongs in 1:00.40. Eurton timed Ashleyluvssugar galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.

In his two recent wins, Ashleyluvssugar raced near the front throughout under jockey Gary Stevens, who will have the mount in the BC Turf. In the John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles, Ashleyluvssugar was second, trailing by a half-length to three lengths through the first mile. He took the lead in early stretch and won by a half-length over Texas Ryano, another probable starter in the BC Turf.

“In a perfect world, you want to track one or two,” Eurton said.

The BC Turf is expected to have a field of 13 or 14. Found, the winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly on Oct. 2, is pre-entered for the BC Classic on Nov. 5. She could run in that race on dirt since the same owners and trainer – the partnership of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Sue Magnier and trainer Aidan O’Brien – have Highland Reel in the BC Turf. Highland Reel was second in the Arc.

The top American-based hopes are Ectot and Flintshire, who were first and second in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Oct. 1. Flintshire won three Grade 1 or Grade 2 races in New York from June to late August for trainer Chad Brown and is likely to be favored in the BC Turf.