Joshua Tree uncertain to travel to U.S.

Joshua Tree closed strongly in the stretch while bearing inward during his 12-1 victory in last Saturday's Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, a Win and You're In race at Ascot in England.

After an inquiry, Joshua Tree's number stayed up, and he was quoted at 20-1 by William Hill in the early wagering for next year's Group 1 English Derby.

After the race, trainer Aidan O'Brien was asked about the possibility of Joshua Tree going in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.

"All the races like that are under consideration and come into the equation, but we won't be in a hurry with him," said O'Brien. "He's a lovely horse, and appreciated the decent ground and pace today."

Joshua Tree is not BC-nominated, and would have to be supplemented at a cost of $90,000.

This Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont is a Win and You're In event, and it should yield at least one BC Juvenile Turf starter. Among the nominees are Interactif and Paddy O'Prado, the first- and third-place finishers in the Grade 3 With Anticipation Stakes on the grass at Saratoga on Sept. 4.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Interactif captured the 1 1/16-mile With Anticipation by 4 1/4 lengths in his first turf start. He was awarded an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

Paddy O'Prado, a fast-improving maiden trained by Dale Romans, was nosed out of second in the With Anticipation, which came after a neck loss in a two-turn maiden special at Saratoga.