Breeders' Cup Mile: All eyes on Ribchester

Will he or won’t he?

The key question regarding pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup Mile is whether Ribchester ships from England to run.

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Ribchester is the 5-2 morning-line Mile favorite on Daily Racing Form national handicapper Mike Watchmaker’s early line, but Ribchester’s status for the race remained up in the air as of Wednesday.

Ribchester, a multiple Group 1 winner over one mile, just ran Saturday in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, finishing second over soft turf. It was announced Monday that Ribchester goes off to stud for 2018, but the colt’s owner, Godolphin, has left it up to trainer Richard Fahey to decide whether Ribchester has his career finale in the BC Mile. Fahey said Ribchester came out of the QE II in good shape, and would like to see Ribchester back on firm turf, but a final decision on the colt’s BC Mile status probably won’t come until Friday. If Fahey gives the green light, Ribchester would ship Saturday.

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There were 21 pre-entries in the Mile, which is capped at 14 runners, but four of the 14 pre-entrants in the field’s main body were entered with first preference in a different Breeders’ Cup race. Churchill, who was third in the QE II and is the 7-2 second choice on Watchmaker’s line, has first preference in the Classic, while the talented 3-year-old filly Roly Poly has first preference in the Filly and Mare Turf, as does Senga. Decorated Knight has first preference in the Turf. Home of The Brave, Midnight Storm, Om, and Karar are the next four into the race, but Midnight Storm was entered with first preference in the Dirt Mile.

Bal a Bali, Suedois, and World Approval gained automatic Mile entry winning Breeders’ Cup Challenge races. World Approval, winner of the Fourstardave and the Woodbine Mile, both Grade 1’s, in his last two starts is the leading North American hope. Suedois shipped from England to win the Shadwell Turf Mile, from which runner-up Heart to Heart and third-place Ballagh Rocks emerge as Mile pre-entrants.

Bal a Bali and Blackjackcat are the leading West Coast hopes, though California-based Big Score also is part of the field’s main body, and Om could well find his way into the race.

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The other two pre-entries in the Mile’s main body are Lancaster Bomber, whose high-water mark this season was a second in the Woodbine Mile, and Zelzal, who most recently finished sixth in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret, a race in which Karar was third.

The last three horses that weren’t selected for the Mile’s main body are Hunt, Mr. Roary, and Frank Conversation, though Hunt has first preference in the Turf.