Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Speed bunched together

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The presence of the brilliantly fast Liam’s Map makes Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile a difficult race to win for any of his 10 rivals.

Steve Asmussen, the trainer of one of those opponents, Tapiture, felt that his horse’s chances improved somewhat at Monday’s post-position draw. Tapiture, last year’s Dirt Mile runner-up, drew post 9 in the 11-horse field, but Asmussen was happy to see the bulk of the speed draw right alongside each other. Bradester, Liam’s Map, and Mr. Z drew posts 2, 3, and 4 in the Dirt Mile.

“I thought the most important thing about his draw was who was where,” Asmussen said. “With the mile configuration here, where you drew was extremely important compared to other horses far more so than the actual post position because of the obvious style of some very talented, big horses.”

Tapiture is a closer and will try to come from off the pace, as he did in last year’s Dirt Mile, where he rallied from 9 1/2 lengths back to finish second to Goldencents.

“It’s a good race. They’ll go really fast, and I think Tapiture will fly home if allowed,” Asmussen said. “When I say if allowed, if you’re not completely eliminated in the first turn either through how far [wide] you go or how rough it is.”

Ricardo Santana will ride Tapiture, who worked four furlongs in 49.62 seconds Monday over Keeneland’s main track.

The field for the Dirt Mile underwent some renovations Sunday and Monday. On Sunday, trainer Peter Miller said Appealing Tale injured an ankle and would not make the race.

On Monday morning, Lea was entered in the Dirt Mile, though he had been pre-entered with the Mile on turf as his first preference. With rain in the forecast for midweek, trainer Bill Mott feared that soft turf would impact Lea’s chances in the Mile.

Lea drew post 5. Others entered in the Dirt Mile include Red Vine, Street Strategy, War Envoy, Wicked Strong, Valid, and War Story.

Two horses who could have drawn into the field from the preference list did not enter. Midnight Storm, who was pre-entered in the Dirt Mile and Mile, did not enter either race and will point to the Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar on Nov. 27, trainer Phil D’Amato said. Nates Minehsaft, last on the preference list, also did not enter.