Breeders' Cup: Foreign-based runners merit respect throughout Friday's card

ARCADIA, Calif. – From a trio of 2-year-old fillies with classic potential to an Argentine horse who became a stakes winner in his 23rd start, the foreign horses starting on Friday’s Breeders’ Cup program at Santa Anita represent a wide variety of runners, and a group capable of producing a winner.

In 2012, foreign-based longshots won the BC Marathon (Calidoscopio), and BC Juvenile Fillies Turf (Flotilla) on the first day of the Breeders’ Cup races. This year, handicappers will find contenders among the nine foreign-based runners in Friday’s Marathon, Juvenile Turf, and Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Three 2-year-old fillies – Al Thakhira, Chriselliam, and Vorda, all stakes winners at Newmarket this fall – have arguably the best chances among Friday’s foreign runners in the Juvenile Fillies Turf over a mile.

[BREEDERS’ CUP 2013: See DRF’s top contenders]

Vorda, trained by Philippe Sogorb, has won three stakes this year – two races in France at Maisons-Laffitte in June and July before a stylish win in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes over a straight six furlongs at Newmarket on Sept. 28. While Vorda has never run a mile on turf, the last furlong at Newmarket has a noticeable rise, suggesting she can handle the distance.

Vorda’s only loss was a second as the 3-2 favorite in the Group 1 Prix Morny over a straight six furlongs on turf at Deauville in August. She was beaten a length by No Nay Never, an American-trained runner.

Al Thakhira is 12-1 with the bookmaking firm Coral to win the English 1000 Guineas next May, a slightly lower price than Chriselliam and Vorda, at 14-1.

Chriselliam won the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile in a 28-1 upset at Newmarket on Sept. 27. The BC Juvenile Fillies Turf is her second trip out of England, preceded by a ninth in the Group 3 Prix du Calvados in France in mid-August.

The unbeaten Al Thakhira, trained by Marco Botti, has never run a mile, but her performance in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket on Oct. 12 tips that she can get the distance. She pulled away from seven rivals through the final furlong of that race.

The largest foreign presence on Friday is in the Juvenile Turf, with four European runners – Giovanni Boldini, Outstrip, Shamshom, and Wilshire Boulevard.

Giovanni Boldini and Wilshire Boulevard are owned Michael Tabor, Sue Magnier, and Derrick Smith and trained by Aidan O’Brien.

Giovanni Boldini, purchased for $675,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, was third in a highly rated running of the Group 1 National Stakes on turf at the Curragh on Sept. 15, and followed with an easy win in the minor Star Appeal Stakes on the all-weather track at Dundalk, Ireland, on Oct. 11. He will try a mile for the first time on Friday, and is expected to be favored for the Juvenile Turf.

Wilshire Boulevard has won 2 of 7 starts, with both victories in Ireland. He was second in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York in August, and fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in Paris on Oct. 6. An Irish-bred colt by Holy Roman Emperor, Wilshire Boulevard lost those races to well-regarded runners Astaire and Karakontie.

Godolphin Racing starts Outstrip, a homebred colt by Exceed and Excel who won the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on Sept. 14, and was third in the Grade 1 Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket on Oct. 12, finishing behind the three-time stakes winner War Command.

The Juvenile Turf will be Outstrip’s first start on a left-handed track and first race at a mile.

Shamshon, trained by Richard Hannon, won the minor Prix de la Valley d’Auge at Deauville in August before finishing fifth in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes over six furlongs as the 7-2 favorite at Newbury on Sept. 21. He has never run beyond six furlongs, or around a turn.

The BC Marathon over 1 3/4 miles has Ever Rider, a South American shipper, and London Bridge, who has raced in England and France.

London Bridge makes his first start on a dirt surface in the Marathon. A 3-year-old colt trained by Jo Hughes, London Bridge has won three times, all in a two-week span in England from June 6 to June 20 at distances of 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 miles. A front-runner, London Bridge was later fourth in the Prix Michel Houyvet over 1 7/8 miles on turf at Deauville on Aug. 15.

Ever Rider has been in Southern California for nearly three months, but has not raced since winning the Group 2 General Belgrano in Argentina on June 21. Remarkably, the Belgrano, run over 1 9/16 miles, was Ever Rider’s stakes debut in his 23rd start.