Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf: How's Al Today's rapid ascension puts him atop the contenders
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In late summer, the colt How’s Al Today needed less than two weeks to reach the top of the domestic 2-year-old turf division.
At Kentucky Downs, How’s Al Today won a $250,000 allowance race for sprinters on Aug. 29, and the $731,250 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile on Sept. 9, collecting a cool $583,088 from the two wins.
In the Juvenile Mile, his first start at the distance, How’s Al Today closed from seventh to win by 4 1/4 lengths, finishing in 1:34.84. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 94, the highest for a juvenile at a mile on turf this decade.
The win put How’s Al Today on course for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 30.
“The last race that surprised me, coming off an 11-day layoff, and blowing the field away was amazing,” said owner Al Gold. “It was outstanding.
“We’re looking forward to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Trained by Riley Mott, How’s Al Today is the leading American hope in the BC Juvenile Turf at a mile, a race that annually draws leading runners from across the continent and Europe.
This year will be no different. Haffner, trained by Aidan O’Brien, won the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at seven furlongs on turf on a course with an uphill finish at Newmarket Racecourse in Britain last Saturday to secure his position as a leading contender.
Al Hudaiba, trained in Britain by Charlie Appleby, has already won in North America, overcoming an erratic trip through the stretch in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at a mile at Woodbine on Sept. 12, his fourth victory in six starts.
There are three key prep races in the United States in this weekend that will further clarify the field – Saturday’s Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park, Sunday’s Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland, and Sunday’s Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita.
The winners of the Pilgrim and Bourbon receive fees-paid berths to the BC Juvenile Turf, as does the winner of Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Largardere at Longchamp in Paris.
How’s Al Today will not race again until the BC Juvenile Turf, Al Gold said. Trainer Todd Pletcher said earlier this week he is taking the same approach with Liam’s Law, who won the With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 5.
A win in the BC Juvenile Turf would be part of a remarkable year for Gold, the Florida-based owner who won the Preakness in May with Napoleon Solo.
Later that month, Napoleon Solo was sold privately. Trained by Chad Summers, Napoleon Solo is expected to be pre-entered in the BC Classic and BC Dirt Mile to be run on Oct. 31.
With slightly four weeks remaining to the Breeders’ Cup, How’s Al Today is the best American hope for a win in a turf stakes for 2-year-olds. The list of contenders can change rapidly in the next few weeks, though.
Among Europeans, Folsom Blues, winner of the Group 1 National Stakes at seven furlongs at the Curragh in Ireland on Sept. 13, looks to be a danger for trainer Joseph O’Brien. Folsom Blues won the National Stakes by six lengths, suggesting he will thrive at a mile.
Juvenile Fillies Turf
Sun Goddess, winner of the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, is the early favorite for the $1 million BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at a mile.
Citrus Springs and Up Before the Dawn, first and second in the $750,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies on Sept. 7, are scheduled to have their next starts in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Since that race, Citrus Springs has been transferred from trainer Joseph O’Brien to Miguel Clement, owner Dean Reeves said earlier this week. Up Before the Dawn, trained by Kelsey Danner, closed from seventh to finish a head behind Citrus Springs.
There are three races this weekend with automatic bids for the winner to the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf – Friday’s Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland, Saturday’s Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park, and Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp.
In California, Vanta will be favored to extend her winning streak to three races in Sunday’s Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita.
Juvenile Turf Sprint
The group of early contenders for the $1 million BC Juvenile Turf Sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs is led by Libertango, who was second to the star filly Sun Goddess in the Cheveley Park at six furlongs on Saturday; and Orthodox, who won the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at the same distance at Newmarket on Saturday.
The American group commands respect, particularly Wood Island, who won the Skidmore Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 27 and is part of a field of nine in Sunday’s Grade 3 Indian Summer Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland. The filly Go for Launch holds appeal, after winning her turf stakes debut in the Bolton Landing Stakes for fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 26. She is scheduled to run in Sunday’s Algonquin Stakes at Woodbine, trainer Kevin Attard said.
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