Beat Hollow isn't looking ahead

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Forget about tomorrow, says Bobby Frankel. What if, for example, something terrible occurs - like drawing the 14-hole in the Breeders' Cup Mile?

"Something like that happens, you don't have much chance," said Frankel.

So Frankel is living for today with his grass star, Beat Hollow, who on Sunday will attempt to use the $600,000 Shadwell Keeneland Turf Mile as a springboard to the Oct. 26 BC Mile.

The Shadwell Mile, which has been upgraded to a Grade 1 for this 17th running, has attracted a sensational field. Beat Hollow, winner of the Arlington Million in his last start, is the logical favorite under Jerry Bailey, but a group of high-class challengers seemingly legitimizes the new Grade 1 ranking.

Frankel has said for weeks that although Beat Hollow had enough moxie to win the Million at 1 1/4 miles, the 5-year-old horse probably is more effective at slightly shorter distances. That means the Mile is the most logical target on Breeders' Cup Day, although Frankel is taking nothing for granted.

He is well aware that a number of supremely talented European horses are under serious consideration for the Mile, meaning he will take what he can get Sunday.

"It's a great purse, it's the right distance, and the [allowance] conditions mean we don't have to give up any weight," said Frankel. "The horse is doing great, so you've got to strike while you can."

With Beat Hollow and major contenders in several other stakes races here this weekend, Frankel is trying to duplicate his Keeneland coup of 1999, when he won the Shadwell Mile with Kirkwall, the Spinster with Keeper Hill, and the Galaxy (then Vinery) with Happyanunoit.

Besides Beat Hollow, the Shadwell Mile also attracted Balto Star, the flashy gelding who is always a danger on the front end; Landseer, a steady 3-year-old from the powerful Aidan O'Brien stable; Touch of the Blues, winner of the Maker's Mark Mile here in the spring; and Startac, who recently broke a seven-race losing streak by winning the Belmont Breeders' Cup.

Completing the field are Strut the Stage, North East Bound, Freefourinternet, and Gramm-arian.

The Shadwell Mile is carded as the sixth race Sunday, with post time of 3:50 p.m. Eastern.

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