Euro shipper Live In The Dream brings strong form into Woodford

The problem with European sprinters coming to America generally is twofold: They don’t break from the gate especially well, and they lack experience racing around turns. Neither applies to Live In The Dream, who could be a standout Saturday in the Grade 2, $350,000 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland.

Live In The Dream makes his American debut in the 5 1/2-furlong Woodford. So does his jockey, Sean Kirrane, and trainer, Adam West. Horse, rider, and trainer, if all goes well, are headed farther west, to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, after the Woodford. Live In The Dream already won the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes, part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.

Live In The Dream was 28-1 in the Nunthorpe, his Group 1 debut. He broke like a rocket, opened a lead of several lengths, and never was seriously challenged. He won by one length over Highfield Princess, among Europe’s top sprinters the last two years and victorious last weekend in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp.

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The sharp start was typical for Live In The Dream, who mainly contested handicap races well below the top level until earlier this year. While the five-furlong Nunthorpe was run down a straight course, Live In The Dream excels around turns. He has raced left-handed eight times and won half those starts. West, who trains a modest stable in Epsom, sent Live In The Dream to Keeneland early and the gelding worked Oct. 3 at five furlongs.

The 11 others in the Woodford won’t beat Live In The Dream if he carries his form from England.

Bad Beat Brian lived up to his name when he raced at Keeneland in April, losing a tight photo in the Shakertown Stakes. He was fourth with some trouble in the 2022 Woodford and was part of a blanket finish last month when third, beaten a neck, in the Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs. Bad Beat Brian has a tough draw in post 1 since he’s probably not quite quick enough to make the lead.

Our Shot and Kaufymaker are the only horses with Keeneland turf wins. Kaufymaker could get caught up in a hot pace and might not be good enough, but Our Shot has a strong chance if the overseas raider fails to fire. In from New York for trainer John Terranova, Our Shot won a high-level allowance by three lengths at Keeneland in April, and while he led that day, he’s more naturally a pressing or stalking type. His close third in the Harvey Pack last out at Saratoga slots competitively into the Woodford.

Beer Can Man has qualifications but probably needs a pace meltdown to win. From post 11, jockey Flavien Prat will have little choice but to take back and try to save some ground before the turn.

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