Key contenders in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Mile

World Approval, by Northern Afleet
Last 3 Beyers: 108-108-102

* 22.68 seconds – that was how fast World Approval ran his second quarter-mile in the Woodbine Mile. That’s a really demanding split, but World Approval still rattled off an excellent 22.79 final quarter two win easily over Lancaster Bomber while giving that rival 12 pounds.

* 22.94 seconds – that was World Approval’s last quarter-mile winning the Fourstardave at Saratoga two starts ago. When a horse with tactical pace can fly home like that, he makes a very, very dangerous turf miler.

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Suedois, by Le Havre
Last 3 Beyers: 105-N/A-N/A

* Heart to Heart likes Keeneland’s grass course, and after going clear through a moderate pace in the Shadwell Turf Mile, the race really should’ve been his. But Suedois, on chewed-up ground that was far from quick, came with a 22.85 closing quarter-mile to nail him.

* He’s 2 for 2 since trainer David O’Meara and jockey Danny Tudhope changed racing tactics, holding him up off the pace, and stretched Suedois out to one mile.

* His relaxed style and sprinter’s acceleration should make Suedois comfortable on the Del Mar turf course, the tightest track over which he’s raced.

Ribchester, by Iffraaj
Last 3 Beyers: N/A-N/A-N/A

* There’s no doubt he’s plenty good enough to win this race, and he’ll appreciate a return to firmer turf. He set a course record at Ascot winning the Queen Anne in his most recent start over fast ground.

* Key issue with Ribchester is the two-week turnaround from the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, a race in which he battled hard to finish second on a soft course. Olympic Glory was the last horse to try the BC Mile on such short rest. He also shipped from England in 2013, a year when the QE II also was just two weeks out, and finished ninth of 10 at Santa Anita as the solid second choice to Wise Dan.

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Roly Poly, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: N/A-N/A-N/A

* Hard to fault a horse who’s won three Group 1's this season and looked good capturing the Sun Chariot last out over Persuasive, who returned with a very sharp score in the QE II. But the two worst races on her form also are also the only two races since her debut where she ran around a turn.

“It’s something to wonder about,” conceded jockey Ryan Moore.