Dirt Mile: Long run-up, short stretch this year

Some background on the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, which will be run for the ninth time on Friday, Oct. 30:

◗ The maximum number of starters is 12, plus two also-eligible horses.

◗ Because Keeneland’s main track is 1 1/16 miles around, the two-turn race will start in front of the stands, and the first finish line will be utilized, meaning not all of the 1,236-foot stretch run will come into play. This should work in favor of forwardly placed runners.

◗ The term “Dirt Mile” has been a misnomer on several occasions: The inaugural edition in 2007 at Monmouth Park was contested at a mile and 70 yards, and it was not run on dirt in 2008 or 2009. This year, the official distance is one mile, at least for timing purposes, but because of the close proximity to the first turn, the gate will be placed 210 feet behind the point where timing begins, giving the field 463 feet to run before reaching that initial bend and effectively lengthening the distance to a mile and 70 yards from gate to wire.

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◗ The historical Beyer Speed Figure par is 107.1. Corinthian (2007) set the standard of 119 in the slop, and Albertus Maximus (2008) was the lowest-rated winner at 102.

◗ In between Corinthian ($9.40) and two-time winner Goldencents ($9.60 and $3.40), the average winning mutuel from five double-digit winners in 2008-12 was four cents shy of $37. Last year, Goldencents became the first winning Dirt Mile favorite.

◗ The three Breeders’ Cup Challenge winners who earned fees-paid spots are Appealing Tale, who won the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien; Honor Code, the winner of the Met Mile; and Urko, who captured the Copa de Oro in Chile.

Appealing Tale notched the first graded stakes victory of his 24-race career in the seven-furlong Pat O’Brien. “We’re pointing for the Dirt Mile,” said trainer Peter Miller. “He’s such a game horse, and he can go anywhere from seven-eighths to a mile and a sixteenth, so the mile is right in his wheelhouse.”

The distance is also right in the wheelhouse of Honor Code, who ran a 112 Beyer in taking the Met Mile with a stirring stretch run. However, trainer Shug McGaughey is pointing the deep closer to the Classic.

Urko follows in the footsteps of Bronzo, who punched his ticket to the Dirt Mile by winning last year’s Copa de Oro at Club Hippico and ultimately finished a rallying fourth at 23-1. Bronzo’s trainer, Jorge Inda, also trains Urko.

The prospective field for the Dirt Mile should come into sharper focus this Saturday, as the Ack Ack Handicap (Churchill), Awesome Again (Santa Anita), and Vosburgh (Belmont Park) all could produce starters.