Breeders’ Cup Turf: Little Mike, Point of Entry have something to prove

ARCADIA, Calif. – Little Mike and Point of Entry, the first two finishers in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita in 2012, were among the 13 horses pre-entered Monday for this year’s running at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

Despite their success 12 months ago, they both approach the race with something to prove and face several opponents capable of winning.

Little Mike, trained by Dale Romans for Priscilla Vaccarezza, won the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Sept. 28, his first win in five starts since the 2012 BC Turf. Little Mike won by a nose over Big Blue Kitten, another top contender for the BC Turf.

Point of Entry, trained by Shug McGaughey for the Phipps family, has not started since winning the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park in June, a layoff caused by a leg injury that required surgery in early summer. Point of Entry resumed serious training in early September.

[BREEDERS’ CUP 2013: See DRF’s top contenders]

Those two are joined on the list of leading contenders by Real Solution, who was promoted from second to first following the disqualification of The Apache in the Arlington Million in August; Indy Point, the Argentine-bred who won the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita on Sept. 29; and The Fugue, a 4-year-old filly who beat males in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sept. 7.

The 2013 stakes winners Grandeur (Foundation Stakes in England), Teaks North (Good Reward Stakes at Belmont), and Vagabond Shoes (Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap) were pre-entered. They have yet to win a Grade 1 race.

The surprise entrants were Magician, Skyring, Tale of a Champion, and Twilight Eclipse.

Magician, trained by Aidan O’Brien, is the most prominent of those horses. A 3-year-old colt by the red-hot European sire Galileo, Magician won the Irish 2000 Guineas in May but was last of nine in the St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Earlier this month, O’Brien mentioned Magician as a candidate for the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Oct. 19, but saved the colt for the BC Turf. Magician races for O’Brien’s principal clients – Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Sue Magnier. A winner of 3 of 7 starts who has earned $294,496, Magician has never started over the BC Turf distance of 1 1/2 miles.

Skyring won the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes at Pimlico in May, but is winless in his last three starts. Tale of a Champion won the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park in June, but was last of 10 in the John Henry Turf Championship. Twilight Eclipse won the Grade 2 Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March, but has lost four subsequent starts in Grade 1 races.