Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf: Beckett to have first BC runner(s) in five years
England-based trainer Ralph Beckett hasn’t started a Breeders’ Cup runner since the event last was held a Keeneland, in 2015, but Breeders’ Cup officials expect at least one and possibly two Beckett-trained runners in the Juvenile Turf next month.
Beckett, who could not be reached by phone Wednesday, has long mentioned New Mandate as a likely participant in the Juvenile Turf, while Devilwala, who finished fourth at odds of 100-1 Oct. 10 in the Group 1 Dewhurst at Newmarket, also showed up this week on the Breeders’ Cup roll call of possible starters.
Beckett’s Breeders’ Cup runner in 2015 was Secret Gesture, who finished seventh in the Filly and Mare Turf after running fourth in the 2014 renewal. In 2008, the Beckett-trained Muhannak won the Marathon when that race was part of the Breeders’ Cup program.
The 2015 Breeders’ Cup was run over a sodden grass course and similar conditions would present a new challenge to New Mandate. The New Bay colt has won three races in a row, including the Group 2 Royal Lodge, part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, but all five of his starts have come over good or good-to-firm turf.
Devilwala was making his first start for Beckett in the Dewhurst, where he set the pace and held well for fourth, beaten less than three lengths by victorious St. Mark’s Basilica. Devilwala previously was trained by Archie Watson and had finished seventh of eight in his lone stakes start.
The exact shape of the European contingent for the Juvenile Turf is yet to be determined, and Saturday’s Group 1 Vertem Futurity (known as the Racing Post Trophy until last year) could even yield a runner.
One confirmed runner in the Vertem Futurity is Godolphin’s One Ruler, who had previously been listed as a likely Juvenile Turf runner. Trainer Charlie Appleby’s potential Breeders’ Cup group took major blows in recent weeks with the retirement of Pinatubo, who would have been among the favorites for the Mile, and Ghaiyyath, a potential major player in the Turf.
Closer to home, trainer Brad Cox confirmed Abarta, runner-up in the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland earlier this month, is headed to the Juvenile Turf. Abarta came into the Bourbon off a debut win and rallied from 10th at the stretch call to finish a well-beaten second behind Mutasaabeq.
“He’s an immature horse mentally,” Cox said. “He’s got to move forward, but if he does, he could be a factor.”
Mutasaabeq returned to trainer Todd Pletcher’s New York base to prepare for the Juvenile Turf. Also coming from New York will be Public Sector, runner-up to Juvenile Turf-bound Fire At Will in the Grade 2 Pilgrim.