Imperia emerges as strong BC Juvenile Turf contender

Of the trio of 2-year-olds who won major turf stakes over the weekend, Imperia might be the only one advancing to the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 31. He won his maiden Sunday in the Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim at Belmont Park.

Elm Park, who on Saturday accounted for the Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket, a Win and You’re In race for the BC Juvenile Turf, and Ol’ Man River, the winner of the Group 2 Beresford at The Curragh on Sunday, were leaning in different directions as of Monday.

Imperia was making his second career start in the Pilgrim and closed for a one-length win in the 1 1/16-mile race run on firm ground. For the effort, he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82. Imperia’s debut came on good turf at Saratoga, where he was second by a neck in a maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 23.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the horse would now be pointed for the BC Juvenile Turf, according to a report in Daily Racing Form. Imperia is owned by Godolphin Racing and is a son of Medaglia d’Oro and the multiple Grade 1-winning mare Cocoa Beach.

Elm Park, who was a supplement to the Royal Lodge, could be headed to the prestigious Racing Post Trophy, a Group 1 race at Doncaster on Oct. 25.

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“Elm Park’s trainer, Andrew Balding, said he was likely to go to the Racing Post Trophy, but the decision will be Sheikh Fahad Al Thani’s,” Mark Dwyer, an official with Newmarket, said in an email to DRF.

Elm Park is not Breeders’ Cup-nominated, according to Adrian Beaumont of the International Racing Bureau.

Ol’ Man River is another potential candidate for the Racing Post Trophy after improving his record to 2 for 2 with a clear win in the Beresford. He was a $3.8 million yearling and is from the champion mare Finsceal Beo.

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“He’s in the Racing Post Trophy and the Dewhurst,” trainer Aidan O’Brien told officials with The Curragh. “He has all the entries, but he doesn’t have to run again this year as he has the two runs and knows enough now going into next year. He could run again this year, but we won’t force him. This time of year, horses can change, so we’ll see what happens. He loves fast ground and is a beautiful mover. He’s exciting.”

O’Brien trains Ol’ Man River for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.