Breeders' Cup berths awarded to winners in Japan, France, Argentina

Major stakes on three continents on Saturday and Sunday offered automatic berths to Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita in November, but it was uncertain whether two of the winners would travel to the United States this fall.

Orfevre, the winner of the 2011 Japanese Triple Crown, won for the first time in three starts as a 4-year-old in Sunday’s Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse. At Saint-Cloud racecourse in Paris, Meandre pulled an upset against three rivals in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

Danedream, the winner of the 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, finished last in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud as the 4-5 favorite.

Because of their wins on Sunday, Orfevre and Meandre will have a fees-paid berth to the $3 million BC Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 3, if they are made eligible to the BC program by October. They could meet in the Arc de Triomphe in Paris in October instead.

Orfevre, mentioned as an Arc candidate earlier this year, won the $3.4 million Takarazuka Kinen by two lengths over stablemate Rulership. The first two finishers are owned by Sunday Racing.

Ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe for trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, Orfevre raced at the back of the field for the first half of the race over about 1 3/8 miles on turf. Turning into the stretch on the right-handed track, Orfevre emerged between runners and won convincingly.

The Takarazuka Kinen was Orfevre’s fifth career Grade 1 win, and first since the Arima Kinen in his debut against older horses last December.

Meandre was dismissed at 5-1 in the four-runner Grand Prix de Saint Cloud over about 1 1/2 miles.

Ridden by Maxime Guyon, Meandre was third early, took the lead with a furlong remaining and won by 1 1/4 lengths over Shareta, a 4-year-old filly. Galikova, ninth in the 2011 Arc, finished third in her first start of the year.

Trained by Andre Fabre, Meandre won the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp last July, his only previous Group 1 win.

Meandre was sixth in the 2011 Arc and was quoted by British bookmakers Coral at 16-1 for this year’s race. Dandream’s price was extended from 10-1 to 14-1.

Saturday, Calidoscopio won the Group 1 Clasico Belgrano at Palermo Racecourse in Buenos Aires, Argentina, earning a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Marathon on Nov. 2.

Calidoscopio won by two lengths over pacesetter Dream Storm in the race over about 1 9/16 miles. A 9-year-old, Calidoscopio was ridden by Pablo Falero.

According to a statement released by the Breeders’ Cup, Calidoscopio will be nominated to the BC program later this year, owner Juan Carlos Echeverz said.

Calidoscopio won the Group 1 Gran Premio Republica Argentina in 2009.