Breeders' Cup Mile: Key contenders

IRONICUS, by Distorted Humor
Last 3 Beyers: 105-106-100
◗ Finished like a freight train in the Shadwell Turf Mile, getting his last quarter-mile in 22.55 seconds, .60 faster than the next-quickest closing fraction, and a full second faster than victorious Miss Temple City, who beat him by a nose.
◗ Has had a nick and a scrape here and there this year, limiting his starts, but in the end that means he comes into the Mile a fresh horse.
“He had two races going a mile and an eighth and a mile and a quarter, and now he’s got a mile under him, and that might put a little sting back in him,” said trainer Shug McGaughey, who seems convinced Ironicus will break better Saturday than he did at Keeneland. “He had a sharp work Sunday. As of right now, I can’t give him any excuses.”

LIMATO, by Tagula
◗ His Timeform rating this year towers over his fellow Europeans, including the good filly Alice Springs, and his last-out win in the Prix de la Foret probably was the best performance at less than a mile in Europe this year.
◗ Has not quite stayed a mile on more testing overseas courses, but his connections are hopeful the fast surface, tight track, and relatively short home straight at Santa Anita will get him home.
◗ Has tactical pace and is a compact, athletic sort. Should be prominently placed.

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ALICE SPRINGS, by Galileo
◗ Already has shown she can handle turning North American tracks with a second to Catch a Glimpse in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf last year.
◗ Best race of her season came in her lone Group 1 try around a bend, when she finished powerfully at Leopardstown to win the Matron Stakes.
◗ Has been shipped here because she wants a firm turf course and a strong pace, both of which she will get.

TEPIN, by Bernstein
Last 3 Beyers: 104-106-102
◗ Will she bounce back? Was her runner-up finish in the First Lady at Keeneland just a useful prep, or a sign that the wonderful mare has started to tail off after an amazing run over the last two years?
◗ Has never finished worse than second in nine starts over one mile.
◗ Mild skepticism regarding her current form figures to help her price.

MISS TEMPLE CITY, by Temple City
Last 3 Beyers: 106-97-101
◗ She has beaten males twice this year, and is a large-ish, robust filly with enough pace to get decent position in this bulky field.
◗ Her two best races (and Beyer Speed Figures) came over the Keeneland turf course, and she has yet to produce that sort of performance elsewhere. To be fair, her races this year at Saratoga were compromised by poor racing luck.

MIDNIGHT STORM, by Pioneerof the Nile
Last 3 Beyers: 106-104-110
◗ Dangerous pace factor wants as firm a course as he can get, according to trainer Phil D’Amato, who is based at Santa Anita and says the grass in the BC Mile will be “the firmest Midnight Storm has run on all year.”
◗ An outside draw shouldn’t hinder him, as only rail-drawn What a View can match his early pace.
◗ Best horse he’s beaten is Tourist, who might be a half-notch below the very best in this tough, deep Mile.