Breeders' Cup Turf: Ectot improving at right time

ARCADIA, Calif. – When Ectot won the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on yielding turf at Belmont Park on Oct. 1, the condition of the rain-soaked course was widely credited as a leading factor in his five-length win.

There was more to the victory than favorable conditions, insists Harry Herbert, racing adviser for co-owner Al Shaqab Racing. A 5-year-old trained by Todd Pletcher, Ectot has shown signs of physical development in recent months, Herbert said.

The timing could be perfect. Ectot was pre-entered this week for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

“With him, it’s all about learning to settle, and Todd Pletcher has done a wonderful job in this regard,” Herbert wrote in an e-mail on Wednesday. “Physically, he is a different horse to look at now, so I am hopeful that he will be competitive.”

Santa Anita’s turf course, installed over the summer, has been firm and produced fast times since the autumn meeting began Sept. 30. Rain is possible this week, but conditions for race week are expected to be clear.

Ectot won on firm turn in France when trained by Elle Lellouche and was beaten a nose in an optional claimer at 1 1/2 miles on firm turf at Saratoga on Sept. 4.

“I would ideally prefer easier ground,” Herbert said. “He will act on a fast surface.”

Ectot was one of 17 horses pre-entered for the Turf, the richest grass race in the United States. The field will have a maximum of 14 runners. Five of the 17 were pre-entered in other Breeders’ Cup races, with second preference given to the BC Turf.

Any defections from the main field would allow Texas Ryano and Ralis to join the field from a list of horses not initially selected to start. The most prominent cross-entered runner is Found, the 4-year-old filly who won the BC Turf at Keeneland last year and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly on Oct. 2. She is pre-entered for the BC Classic, with that race listed as her first preference.

Ectot and Found are among six Grade 1 or Group 1 winners in 2016 in the field, along with expected favorite Flintshire, Highland Reel, Mondialiste, and Seventh Heaven.

Flintshire was second in the Joe Hirsch, his first loss in four starts since joining trainer Chad Brown last winter. Mondialiste is likely for the BC Mile but has a free entry for the BC Turf. Seventh Heaven has been listed with first preference for the Filly and Mare Turf.

Two horses who have won stakes this year were not included on the pre-entry list – The Pizza Man and Twentytwentyvision.

The Pizza Man, who won the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf at Woodbine on Sept. 17, finished fourth in the Canadian International at Woodbine on Oct. 16.Ec

Twentytwentyvision, the winner of the Rolling Green Handicap at Golden Gate Fields last month, will start in Sunday’s Lure Stakes at Santa Anita in preparation for a graded stakes at Del Mar’s autumn meeting, trainer Richard Mandella said.