Either of O'Brien's Dewhurst duo would be formidable in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

Ireland-based trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf four times in the race’s 12-year history and will be a formidable presence again in this year’s renewal at Santa Anita.

O’Brien, who last won the race in 2017 at Del Mar with Mendelssohn, said early this week that he was considering both the second- and third-place finishers from the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes on Oct. 12 at Newmarket for the Juvenile Turf. Runner-up Arizona would almost certainly assume the favorite’s role if he travels to California. In the Dewhurst, Arizona set the pace and briefly staved off the challenge of odds-on favorite Pinatubo, the best 2-year-old in Europe, who finally wore him down. Arizona came home two lengths behind Pinatubo but finished nearly three lengths clear of third-place Wichita, who also is good enough to prove a major player in the Juvenile Turf.

O’Brien also hasn’t ruled out a Juvenile Turf start for Royal Dornoch, who won the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, a BC Challenge Win and You’re In race, in his most recent start.

Surprisingly, it’s only O’Brien-trained horses who are on the list of possible overseas Juvenile Turf runners. Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby won the race last year with Line of Duty and in 2013 with Outstrip, but as of Wednesday neither Godolphin nor any other overseas outfit had definite plans to send a horse for the race.