Liam’s Map favored in Dirt Mile
Despite the imposing presence of Liam’s Map, an oversubscribed field of 16 pre-entered the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, which will be run Friday, Oct. 30, at Keeneland.
Liam’s Map, the Woodward Stakes winner who has recorded Beyer Speed Figures of 112 or better in three of his last four starts, was pegged as the 6-5 favorite by Daily Racing Form linemaker Brad Free. Red Vine (5-1) and Wicked Strong (6-1) are the only others at single-digit odds.
Everyone else is 10-1 or higher, including Appealing Tale (10-1), who is assured a spot by virtue of his win in the Pat O’Brien Stakes, and the Grade 1 winners Lea (10-1) and Mshawish (20-1), both of whom have first preference in the Mile.
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Owing to a short run to the first turn, the starting gate will be placed 210 feet behind the point where the official timing begins, which effectively makes the Dirt Mile’s true distance a mile and 70 yards. The field for the Dirt Mile is capped at 12 starters, plus two also-eligible horses, with scratch time set for 8 a.m. on Oct. 30.
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Two 30-1 shots who made the Dirt Mile field, Barbados and War Envoy, are the first also-eligible horses in the Sprint and the Mile. Thus, despite having first preference in those races, they could end up in the Dirt Mile.
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The horses relegated to the also-eligible list, in order of preference, are War Story, Midnight Storm, Street Strategy, and Nates Mineshaft. Midnight Storm has first preference in the Mile, where he made the main body of the field; Nates Mineshaft has first preference in the Sprint but is the lowest-ranked of seven also-eligible runners for that race.
Assuming that Lea, Mshawish, and Midnight Storm opt for the Mile, spots would then open in the Dirt Mile field for War Story and Street Strategy. That would leave Nates Mineshaft as the only also-eligible, should his connections opt for the Dirt Mile.