Breeders' Cup Turf: Enable tops strong European contingent

Tuesday’s announcement that Enable, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 7 in Paris, will start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs, gives the $4 million race a confirmed odds-on favorite.

As of Wednesday, Enable was as short as 4-7 in future-book betting with British and Irish bookmakers to win the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles.

Judging from history, the brilliant filly may be worth opposing.

Enable will be attempt to do something no other Arc winner has managed to accomplish. Since the Breeders’ Cup was launched in 1984, eight winners of the Arc have started in a Breeders’ Cup race the same year. None have won.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2018: See DRF’s top contenders

Trempolino was second in the BC Turf at Hollywood Park in 1987, while Golden Horn was second at Keeneland in 2015. Honorable mention goes to Sakhee, who was a game second to Tiznow in the 2001 BC Classic at Belmont Park. More recently, Found won the 2016 Arc and was third in the BC Turf at Santa Anita.

Horses beaten in the Arc have excellent records in the BC Turf, with 11 winners since In the Wings finished fourth in the 1990 Arc and won the BC Turf at Belmont Park three weeks later.

:: Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Results, replays, charts, and more

John Gosden trains Enable, a 4-year-old filly who races for Juddmonte Farms. The Arc was her second start of the year after she was sidelined with an injury. Gosden has yet to win the BC Turf. He trained Golden Horn, who was beaten by Found in 2015.

European-based runners will dominate the betting for the BC Turf. The list of shippers will be better known after Saturday’s Group 1 Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Ascot in England. Cracksman, Crystal Ocean, and Roaring Lion are the leading candidates.

The American team for the BC Turf is led by Channel Maker and Robert Bruce, the first two finishers in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Sept. 29 at Belmont Park, and Glorious Empire, who won the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes on Aug. 25 at Saratoga.

Hi Happy, a 6-year-old Argentine-bred who has won six stakes, was fourth in the Sword Dancer and rebounded to finish a fast-closing second to Blacktype in the Grade 2 Knickerbocker Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf Oct. 8 at Belmont Park.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said earlier this week he has seen enough from Hi Happy to point to the BC Turf.

:: Breeders' Cup PP packages: Get PPs, betting strategies, DRF+ Pro access, and more

“He seemed to bounce out of the Knickerbocker really well,” Pletcher said. “The trip was a little short of his best. He made a good showing of himself.”

Hi Happy will be a longshot in the BC Turf and will need a career-best performance to compete with Enable.

“Anytime a horse of her caliber comes over, you have to hope you get lucky,” Pletcher said. “I’ve got tremendous respect for her. I was impressed that John Gosden could get her ready for the Arc after one prep race.”