Breeders' Cup Turf: Cox plots unusual course for Arklow

Arklow, the winner of the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 8, may take an unconventional path to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

Trainer Brad Cox said on Wednesday that he plans to start Arklow in the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 18. The $100,000 Sycamore Stakes is run at 1 1/2 miles on turf, the same distance as the BC Turf.

Cox said there may be sufficient time between the Sycamore and BC Turf for Arklow to start in both races.

“It’s something we’ve talked about,” he said. “If he shows up and does things that well, we’ll definitely look at going.

“We’ll take a swing and see how this unfolds.”

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Should Arklow win the Sycamore Stakes, he would have three consecutive stakes win in turf marathons in Kentucky. On Aug. 5, Arklow won the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Ellis Park.

Arklow, a 4-year-old colt by Arch, races for Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, and Peter Coneway and has won 5 of 15 starts and earned $853,395. Arklow is in the midst of his best season, having won 3 of 6 starts and earned $607,395. The victory at Kentucky Downs last month was worth $432,450.

The Sycamore is one of three races through Oct. 20 that could yield runners for the BC Turf, even though most leading preps were run in late September or earlier this month.

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The Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine will be run Sunday. Last year, Bullards Alley won the Canadian International and was sixth in the BC Turf at Del Mar.

The Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot, England, on Oct. 20 is expected to be led by Roaring Lion and Crystal Ocean, who would have a two-week turnaround to the BC Turf.

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The list of BC Turf candidates is firmly led by Enable, the brilliant winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp last Sunday, her ninth win in 10 career starts. She is owned by Juddmonte Farms and trained by John Gosden. As of Wednesday morning, Enable was 4-5 with European bookmakers to win the BC Turf. If Enable wins the BC Turf, she would be the first female winner of the race since Found at Keeneland in 2015.

Found was trained by Aidan O’Brien, who has yet to state whom he is running in the BC Turf. The O’Brien-trained Capri and Kew Gardens were fifth and seventh in the Arc.