Breeders' Cup Turf: Golden Horn will break from rail in quest for history

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Golden Horn will begin his quest to become the first same-year winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders’ Cup Turf from post 1, a draw that’s not ideal but which Golden Horn ought to be able to overcome if his superiority shines through Saturday.

A field of 12 was entered Monday in the 1 1/2-mile Turf. Over Keeneland’s 7 1/2-furlong turf oval, the Turf is a three-turn race that starts at the five-sixteenths pole on the backstretch. That affords horses close to a quarter-mile straightaway before the first turn comes up, though horses drawn on the far outside still risk being caught wide.

The peril for Golden Horn and jockey Frankie Dettori is breaking flat-footed and having multiple horses cross over before the turn. From there, Dettori could get hemmed in and have the race dictated to him rather than doling out Golden Horn’s gears at his own pleasure. On the other hand, Dettori sent Golden Horn hard from an inside post when he led nearly all the way in the Irish Champion Stakes, and there’s no doubt the vastly accomplished winner of the Epsom Derby is comfortable racing on or near the lead. He won the Arc – and won it comfortably – pressing the pace from a wide draw.

Shining Copper, a pacemaker for Big Blue Kitten, drew post 2 and surely will be sent along to ensure an honest tempo. Dettori must try to find a spot to get Golden Horn off the fence, outside Shining Copper, and into the clear.

Big Blue Kitten, by a narrow margin North America’s leading 12-furlong horse for the moment, drew post 7 and will be ridden by Joe Bravo. He and Shining Copper are two of Chad Brown’s three starters in the $3 million Turf along with Slumber, who drew post 4 and will have Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons.

Arlington Million winner The Pizza Man, who has a real chance to upset Golden Horn if things go right, drew post 10, which should not be a major impediment to his closing style. Just inside him is Found, the 3-year-old Aidan O’Brien filly who finished a good second in the Group 1 Champion Stakes in England just two weekends ago.

Directly outside The Pizza Man is Red Rifle, who hit a career peak finishing a good second to Flintshire in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga. The South American longshot Ordak Dan has post 12.

Twilight Eclipse, who always seems to show up but always seems to find trouble in big races, will start from post 6. Da Big Hoss (post 5) won the Kentucky Turf Cup last out but gets a major class test Saturday. That goes double for Big John B (post 3) and Cage Fighter (post 8).

Beyond the tricky post, Golden Horn might have to overcome turf he doesn’t especially like. The John Gosden-trained colt prefers firmer going, but the grass here was something around yielding as of Monday, and the local forecast calls for rain – perhaps more than an inch – between Monday night and Wednesday night.